Routing tree enhancements based on real time performance statistics

ABSTRACT

A call path score that utilizes real time network statistics, sourced from carriers and the public domain that may be provided to LCR and SCPs to determine the net “value” of a route such that, depending on customer choice, a call completion pattern may be created. Calls may be completed optimizing distance, quality or cost based on real time network and carrier database. This function may be further enhanced to provide a customer sourced rating score that enhances call routing. This may be utilized for real time carrier performance statistics to analyze network congestion. Multiple carriers may be assigned based on network performance and carrier congestion.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/960,312 filed Dec. 4, 2015, which is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/928,575 filed Oct. 30, 2015, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/073,976 filed Nov. 1,2014. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/960,312 filed Dec. 4, 2015further claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application62/088,406 filed Dec. 5, 2014, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application62/172,791 filed Jun. 8, 2015.

Each of the above applications is hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety.

FIELD

This disclosure is related to the operation, control and management oftoll-free telecommunication lines.

BACKGROUND

Businesses increasingly use toll-free telephone numbers for providingcustomers with a convenient and cost-free means of communicating withthem and their various departments, such as customer service andtechnical support representatives. With the proliferation of toll-freenumbers and advanced business analytics for receiving, routing, andlogging, the use of such numbers has come increased complexity inmanaging toll-free numbers.

SUMMARY

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include receiving a one-click activate requestfrom a user via a customizable dashboard, wherein the request includesat least a customer record template reference and an indication of whento activate a toll-free telecommunications number associated with therequest; searching a responsible organization record to determine thepresence of a defined customer template record relating to the userrequest, wherein the responsible organization is associated withtoll-free telecommunications; retrieving at least one customer templaterecord, wherein the customer template record is a defined customertemplate record for the responsible organization; and activating theuser request, wherein the activation includes at least one of activatingor reserving the toll-free telecommunications number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein therequest is received from a mobile client device.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theactivation occurs over a hybrid network.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thehybrid network includes a cellular network and a distributed, cloudnetwork.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thehybrid network includes a cellular network, a distributed, cloudnetwork, and an on-premise enterprise data network.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theenterprise data network is associated with a telecommunications network.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theactivation includes receiving from the user a time and date at which thetoll-free telecommunications number will be activated.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include presenting to a user a widget operablewithin a webpage to access a user interface associated with a toll-freenumber reservation system; receiving from the user a log in credentialassociated with the toll-free number reservation system; receiving fromthe user a toll-free number search parameter through the toll-freenumber reservation system; identifying a toll-free number relating tothe toll-free number search parameter; and receiving an activationrequest from the user, wherein the activation request causes the numberto be reserved for the user and operable to receive toll-free calls.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thewidget is lazy loaded.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thelog in credential is authenticated and a token provided to the user uponsuccessful authentication.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thesearch parameter relates to a category of toll-free numbers.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecategory relates to an industry category.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecategory is based at least in part on metadata associated with atoll-free number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein themetadata is tagged to toll-free numbers.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein themetadata tag is based at least in part on historical data associatedwith toll-free numbers.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thewidget provides one-click functionality.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include presenting to a user a widget operablewithin a webpage to access a user interface associated with a toll-freenumber reservation system; receiving from the user a log in credentialassociated with the toll-free number reservation system; searching aresponsible organization record, based at least in part on thecredential, to determine the presence of a defined customer templaterecord, wherein the responsible organization is associated withtoll-free telecommunications; retrieving at least one customer templaterecord, wherein the customer template record is a defined customertemplate record for the responsible organization; producing a customerpointer record based at least in part on the customer template record;and assigning a toll-free number to the user wherein the number isfurther assigned to the responsible organization as associated with thecustomer pointer record.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include assigning aplurality of toll-free numbers to a user.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereinassigning the plurality of toll-free numbers is associated with aplurality of customer pointer records.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theassignment of the toll-free number includes activating the toll-freenumber so that it is able to receiving calls.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include receiving data relating to at least oneof a dip rate or dip volume that is associated with a toll-freetelecommunications number; receiving social media data relating to usageof the toll-free telecommunications number; analyzing the combined dataand social media data to create a valuation metadata tag that isassociated with the toll-free telecommunications number, wherein thevaluation metadata is a quantitative summary of the demand associatedwith the toll-free telecommunications number; and distributing acommunication to an entity regarding the current valuation of thetoll-free telecommunications number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thedata is data sniffer data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetag includes data related to a category of toll-free number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecategory related to an industry segment.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetag includes data relating to popularity as derived at least in partfrom the search history associated with the toll-free number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetag includes location information associated with the toll-free number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetag includes financial information associated with the toll-free number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thesocial media data includes data relating to a plurality of social mediauser profiles.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theplurality of social media user profiles includes demographic data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theplurality of social media user profiles includes financial data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theplurality of social media user profiles includes geographic data.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include analyzing data relating to a toll-freenumber and social media data to create a valuation metadata tag that isassociated with the toll-free number, wherein the valuation metadata isa quantitative summary of the inferred economic activity associated withthe toll-free telecommunications number; inferring a rating of a secondtoll-free number based at least in part on the valuation metadata,wherein the toll-free number and the second toll-free number share anattribute; and storing the inferred rating of the second toll-freenumber.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thedata is data sniffer data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theinferred rating is presented to a user in a user interface upon the usersubmitting a toll-free number query.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theinferred rating is used to order the second toll-free number within aplurality of toll-free numbers presented to a user.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theordered listing presented to the user includes presenting the ratingthat is associated with each of the plurality of toll-free numbers.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theinferred rating generates an alert to a user if it exceeds a givenrating value.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thealert is sent to a user sharing the attribute.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include receiving data relating to at least oneof a dip rate or dip volume that is associated with a toll-freetelecommunications number; receiving social media data relating to usageof the toll-free telecommunications number; analyzing the combined dataand social media data to create a valuation metadata tag that isassociated with the toll-free telecommunications number, wherein thevaluation metadata is a quantitative summary of the demand associatedwith the toll-free telecommunications number; and initiating a toll-freenumber reservation based on the current valuation of the toll-freetelecommunications number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thedata is data sniffer data.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include receiving data relating to usage of atoll-free telecommunications number; analyzing the received data tocreate a metadata tag that is associated with the toll-freetelecommunications number, wherein the metadata tag is a quantitativesummary associated with the toll-free telecommunications number; anddistributing a communication to an entity regarding the toll-freetelecommunications number in response to the quantitative summary.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein themetadata tag facilitates tracking of updates to the toll-freetelecommunications number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereintracking of updates includes at least one of a change in ownership, achange in availability, and an increase in search statistics.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include modifying themetadata tag through at least one of a web application, a mobileapplication, or some other user interface.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein themetadata tag includes data relating to popularity as derived at least inpart from the search history associated with the toll-free number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein themetadata tag includes location information associated with the toll-freenumber.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein themetadata tag includes financial information associated with thetoll-free number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include receivingdata relating to at least one of a dip rate or dip volume that isassociated with the toll-free telecommunications number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereindistributing the communication to an entity is performed via at leastone of a text message and an email.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include receiving data relating to usage of atoll-free telecommunications number; receiving data associated with thetoll-free telecommunications number; creating a custom metadata tagbased on keywords; analyzing the received data to create a metadata tagthat is associated with the toll-free telecommunications number, whereinthe metadata tag is a quantitative summary associated with the toll-freetelecommunications number; and distributing a communication to an entityregarding the toll-free telecommunications number in response to thequantitative summary.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereincreating the metadata tag includes utilizing one or more keywords.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereincreating the metadata tag includes utilizing category based tagging.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereincreating the metadata tag includes location based tagging.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereincreating the metadata tag is related to popularity.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereincreating the metadata tag is related to social media mentions.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereincreating the metadata tag is related to suggestive tags.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include receiving data relating to at least oneof a dip rate or dip volume that is associated with a toll-freetelecommunications number; ingesting data from a plurality of sourcesrelating to usage of the toll-free telecommunications number; analyzingthe received and ingested data to create a valuation metadata tag thatis associated with the toll-free telecommunications number, wherein thevaluation metadata is a quantitative summary of the demand associatedwith the toll-free telecommunications number; and initiating a toll-freenumber reservation based on the current valuation of the toll-freetelecommunications number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereininitiating the toll-free number reservation is segregated into tiers.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein themetadata tag provides for alerting based on a specified latency.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereininitiating the toll-free number reservation provides for low latencyalerting.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include creating at least two toll-free callrouting tables based on a congestion threshold criterion node in a callrouting tree, wherein the first of the two call routing tables is to beused when toll-free call volumes occurring within a toll-freetelecommunications carrier network are below the congestion threshold,and the second of the two call routing tables is to be used whentoll-free call volumes occurring within a toll-free telecommunicationscarrier network are equal to or above the congestion threshold;providing the call routing tables to at least one service control pointthat is associated with the toll-free telecommunications carriernetwork; monitoring toll-free call volumes and durations occurringwithin a toll-free telecommunications carrier network; receiving atleast one of a call count datum or call duration datum from thetoll-free telecommunications carrier network wherein the call countdatum or call duration datum indicates a change in call volumes over thetoll-free telecommunications carrier network from below the congestionthreshold to above the congestion threshold; and instructing the servicecontrol point to switch from using the first call routing table to thesecond call routing table without a need to change the routing tree.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecall volume is expressed as a percentage of the total call volumeoccurring over the network.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecall volume is a indication of a network failure to transmit calls.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecall volume is specific to an entity.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theentity is a carrier.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theentity is a call center.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theentity is a service control point.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theswitch to the second call routing table occurs in real time with noadditional changes to routing tree required.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereindecision nodes of the first and second call routing tables are loadedinto the service control point.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecall volumes are used to create a call path score for a possible callroute path that is available on the network.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecall path score is based at least in part on a call travel distanceestimate.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecall path score is based at least in part on a call travel speedestimate.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecall path score is used in association with the congestion thresholdcriterion to determine the switch to the second call route table.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include associating a toll-freetelecommunications network congestion threshold criterion, wherein thecongestion threshold criterion indicates a level of toll-free callvolumes occurring within the toll-free telecommunications network;associating the congestion threshold criterion with a first ruleregarding the usage of a plurality of call routing tables, and a secondrule regarding the usage of a plurality of telecommunications carriers;and switching toll-free calls across the telecommunications carriersbased at least on the congestion threshold criterion, wherein theswitched calls are further routing according to at least one of theplurality of call routing tables.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theswitching of the toll-free calls is automated.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecongestion threshold indicates a level of toll-free call volumes andtoll-free call durations.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theswitching across the telecommunications carriers is determined at leastin part based on historical data associated with the telecommunicationscarriers.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include creating at least two toll-free callrouting tables based on a congestion threshold criterion, wherein thefirst of the two call routing tables is to be used when toll-free callvolumes occurring within a toll-free telecommunications carrier networkare below the congestion threshold, and the second of the two callrouting tables is to be used when toll-free call volumes occurringwithin a toll-free telecommunications carrier network are equal to orabove the congestion threshold; providing the call routing tables to atleast one service control point that is associated with the toll-freetelecommunications carrier network; monitoring toll-free call volumesand durations occurring within a toll-free telecommunications carriernetwork; receiving at least one of a call count datum or call durationdatum from the toll-free telecommunications carrier network wherein thecall count datum or call duration datum indicates a change in callvolumes over the toll-free telecommunications carrier network from belowthe congestion threshold to above the congestion threshold; creating asecond congestion threshold criterion based on the data received fromthe toll-free telecommunications network; and creating a third callrouting table based on the second congestion threshold criterion.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetoll-free call traffic occurring within a toll-free telecommunicationsnetwork is switched based at least in part on one of the first or secondcongestion threshold criterion.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thethird call routing table is used to route an incoming toll-free callreceived subsequent to the creation of the third call routing table.

A method of identifying and storing an identifier associated with atoll-free-communication entity according to one disclosed non-limitingembodiment of the present disclosure can include locating an identifierwithin the header portion of an SMS text message routed over a toll-freetelecommunications line, the identifier located based at least in partthrough latent semantic indexing; comparing the located identifier withmetadata stored on a server, the metadata associated with a plurality ofentities; selecting an entity from among the plurality of entities basedat least in part on the comparison; and storing a code associated withthe entity within a translation table associated with a toll-freetelecommunications management platform.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecode is an FCC code.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theentity is engaged in multimedia content distribution.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein themultimedia content is video content.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theentity is an ad agency.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theentity is an ad network.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theentity is a telecommunications carrier.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetranslation table pertains to routing voice data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetranslation table pertains to routing voice and video content.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetranslation table pertains to routing multimedia data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetranslation table pertains to routing sponsored content.

A method of creating and storing an identifier associated with atoll-free-communication entity according to one disclosed non-limitingembodiment of the present disclosure can include locating data withinthe header portion of an SMS text message routed over a toll-freetelecommunications line, the data located based at least in part throughlatent semantic indexing; creating an entity identifier based at leaston the data; storing a code associated with the entity identifier and anentity within a translation table associated with a toll-freetelecommunications management platform; and associating the entity andentity identifier with a call routing table.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecall routing table is configured to include multiple carriers.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecall routing table is configured to have at least on rule pertaining tothe time of day at which a call occurs.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecall routing table is configured to have at least one rule pertaining tothe location from which a call is received.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecall routing table is configured to have at least one rule pertaining tothe proximity of a caller to the entity.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecall routing table is configured to have at least one rule pertaining tohistorical data relating to a caller.

A method of identifying and storing an identifier associated with atoll-free-communication entity according to one disclosed non-limitingembodiment of the present disclosure can include identifying a toll-freecall route trend among a plurality of toll-free calls taking placewithin a toll-free telecommunications network; wherein the call routetrend is identified at least in part by call routings among toll-freenumbers sharing an attribute; creating a call route template based atleast in part on the trend; identifying an entity using at least onetoll-free number with the shared attribute; prepopulating a call routetree for the entity based on the call route template.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetrend is automatically updated at a pre-defined time interval.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theautomated update generates an alert that is sent to an entity notifyingthem of the updated trend.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include storing a taxonomy of abuse events thatmay occur regarding the usage of a toll-free telecommunications number;storing a rule regarding an action to take upon receipt of a reportedabuse event, wherein the rule specifies a routing rule defining how acall that is associated with the abuse event is to be routed over atoll-free telecommunications system; receiving a report of abuse of atoll-free telecommunications number; identifying at least one abuseevent within the stored taxonomy and routing rule that is related tocontent of the abuse report; and automatically routing a call that isthe subject of the abuse report according to the routing rule.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thereport of abuse derives from a call center.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thereport of abuse derives from a telecommunications carrier.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thereport of abuse derives from a business entity.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein therouting rule is integrated within a call routing template.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecall routing template is shared with an entity other than thatgenerating the report of abuse.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein therouting of the call is manual instead of automatic.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thereport of abuse includes data relating to a responsible organization.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thereport of abuse includes data relating to a time of the abuse event.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thereport of abuse includes data relating to an originating number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thereport of abuse includes data relating to a geographic location of anoriginating number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thereport of abuse includes data relating to a geographic location of aterminating number.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include receiving a report of abuse of atoll-free telecommunications number; identifying an absence of an abuseevent definition within a stored taxonomy that is related to the type ofabuse reported; storing a new definition of the abuse event within thetaxonomy; and creating a routing rule defining how a call that isassociated with the abuse event is to be routed over a toll-freetelecommunications system.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein therouting rule specifies an alternate terminating number to which to routean incoming call.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein therouting rule prevents further call routing over the toll-freetelecommunications number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thestored definition is further associated with third party industry data.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include storing a taxonomy of abuse events thatmay occur regarding the usage of a toll-free telecommunications number;associating the abuse events in the taxonomy with a toll-freetelecommunications number rating action; receiving a report of abuse ofa toll-free telecommunications number; identifying at least one abuseevent within the stored taxonomy and rating action that is related tocontent of the abuse report; automatically computing a rating for thetoll-free telecommunications number based on the rating action; andreporting the rating to an entity.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein therating is associated with a call routing rule.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecall routing rule is shared with a service provider.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein therating is used as metadata to tag the toll-free telecommunicationsnumber.

A mobile device according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment ofthe present disclosure can include a unique toll-free ID (TFID) presentin the mobile device, the TFID operable to facilitate toll-freecommunication between the mobile device and a manufacturer, the TFIDhard flashed in the mobile device.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theTFID is present at the time of manufacture of the mobile device.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theTFID is operable to identify a customer.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theTFID is operable to identify a toll free provider that is providing thetoll free communication.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theTFID is provided via a standard support app that is natively installed.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theTFID is agnostic of type of mobile device.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theTFID facilitates a consumer's ability to at least one of talk, message,view, and browse support related features associated with merchandise ata point of sale.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theTFID facilitates a registration process toll-free call without incurringcost to the user.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theTFID facilitates a warranty process toll-free call without incurringcost to the user.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include a TFID MobileApp resident on the mobile device, the TFID Mobile App operable with theTFID.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theTFID Mobile App facilitates reading of at least one of a QR code,Barcode, RFID, and a serial number via a camera of the mobile device.

A method of communication via a toll-free service according to onedisclosed non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure can includeassociating at least one mobile device to merchandise purchased from amanufacturer via a unique toll-free ID (TFID) hard flashed in the mobiledevice, the TFID operable to facilitate toll-free communication betweenthe mobile device and the manufacturer.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include reading of atleast one of a QR code, Barcode, RFID, and a serial number via a cameraof the mobile device.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include associatingat least one of the QR code, Barcode, RFID, and the serial number withthe TFID via a TFID Mobile App.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include identifying acustomer via the TFID.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include identifying atoll free provider that is providing the toll free service via the TFID.

A mobile device according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment ofthe present disclosure can include a unique toll-free ID (TFID) hardflashed in the mobile device, the TFID operable to facilitate toll-freecommunication between the mobile device and a manufacturer, the TFIDused to associate a product with a toll-free number that includesmetadata associated with the product.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theTFID facilitates a customer service toll-free call without incurringcost to the user.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thecustomer service toll-free call includes allowing the user to accessmultimedia content.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetoll-free communication occurs in a location where the toll-freecommunication prevents incurring international roaming expenses on thedevice placing the communication.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include receiving data relating to toll-freenumber call activity from a toll-free telecommunications system, whereinthe data includes at least one of call volume, call duration or callcount data; receiving third party data relating to macroeconomicactivity; modeling at least one of call duration or call count data withthe third party data to derive a macroeconomic trend; receiving arequest from a client device to present the macroeconomic trend; andpresenting a representation of the macroeconomic trend to a userinterface on the client device.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetoll-free telecommunications system is a toll-free service provider.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetoll-free telecommunications system is a service control point.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetoll-free telecommunications system is an interexchange carrier.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thethird party data is stock market data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thethird party data is Bloomberg data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thethird party data is government data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thethird party data is social media data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thethird party data is credit card processing data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereinthere is a temporal delay between the time of the request and the timeof the presentation of long enough duration that the client deviceenters a sleep mode as regards the interaction, and the client device isactivated out of sleep mode upon the presentation.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include receiving data relating to toll-freenumber call activity from a toll-free telecommunications system, whereinthe data includes at least one of call duration or call count data;receiving metadata about the toll-free numbers that are the subject ofthe call activity, wherein the metadata includes data pertaining to atleast one of business type or location; modeling at least one of callduration or call count data with the metadata to derive a macroeconomictrend; receiving a request from a client device to present themacroeconomic trend; and presenting a representation of themacroeconomic trend to a user interface on the client device.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thebusiness type is a governmental office.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thegovernmental office is an unemployment office.

A method of distributing a macroeconomic data trend over a network to aremote client device, the method according to one disclosed non-limitingembodiment of the present disclosure can include providing a userinterface dashboard to a user for installation on the remote clientdevice; receiving third party social media data; modeling at least oneof call duration or call count data with the third party social mediadata to derive a macroeconomic trend; receiving a request from theremote client device to present the macroeconomic data trend; generatingan alert from the macroeconomic data trend that contains a stock name,stock price and a universal resource locator (URL), which specifies thelocation of the data source; transmitting the alert over a communicationchannel to the remote client device associated with the user based upona destination address and transmission schedule that is associated withthe remote client device, wherein the alert activates the user interfacedashboard to cause the alert to display on the remote client device andto enable connection with the user interface dashboard when the remoteclient device is activated.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein themacroeconomic trend is a measure of customer sentiment.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein themacroeconomic trend includes an economic prediction based at least inpart on the macroeconomic trend.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theeconomic prediction is a probability of an economic activity'soccurrence.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theeconomic activity is increased consumer spending.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theeconomic prediction is further associated with geographic data, whereinthe geographic data is obtained at least in part from historical datarelating to toll-free number usage.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein theeconomic prediction is further associated with geographic data, whereinthe geographic data is obtained at least in part from historical datarelating to social media usage.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include receiving data relating to toll-freenumber call activity from a toll-free telecommunications system;receiving third party data; modeling the data relating to toll-freenumber call activity with the third party data to derive a trend;comparing the trend with historical trend data; creating a trendconfidence score based at least in part on the comparison; receiving arequest from a client device to present the trend; and presenting arepresentation of the trend and the confidence score to a user interfaceon the client device.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetrend is a macroeconomic trend.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thedata relating to toll-free number call activity includes at least one ofcall duration data or call count data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetoll-free telecommunications system is a toll-free service provider.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetoll-free telecommunications system is a service control point.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetoll-free telecommunications system is an interexchange carrier.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thethird party data is stock market data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thethird party data is Bloomberg data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thethird party data is government data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thethird party data is social media data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thethird party data is credit card processing data.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereinthere is a temporal delay between the time of the request and the timeof the presentation of long enough duration that the client deviceenters a sleep mode as regards the interaction, and the client device isactivated out of sleep mode upon the presentation.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include sampling toll-free number call activityfrom a toll-free telecommunications system; repeating the call samplingduring a tuning period until a statistically significant data store iscreated; receiving metadata about the toll-free numbers that are thesubject of the call activity; modeling the data relating to toll-freenumber call activity with the metadata to derive a macroeconomic trend;receiving a request from a client device to present the macroeconomictrend; and presenting a representation of the macroeconomic trend to auser interface on the client device.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein themetadata includes data pertaining to at least one of business type orlocation.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thebusiness type is a governmental office.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thegovernmental office is an unemployment office.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein themetadata about the toll-free numbers is tied to a forward-lookingindicator.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein themetadata about the toll-free numbers includes historical changes in themacroeconomic data.

A method according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of thepresent disclosure can include sampling toll-free number call activityfrom a toll-free telecommunications system; repeating the call samplingduring a tuning period until a statistically significant data store iscreated; receiving metadata about the toll-free numbers that are thesubject of the call activity; receiving third party data; modeling thedata relating to toll-free number call activity to derive a toll-freecall activity trend; modeling the third party data to derive amacroeconomic trend; comparing the toll-free call activity trend withthe macroeconomic trend; creating a trend score based at least in parton the comparison, wherein the trend score expresses an associationbetween the toll-free call activity trend and the macroeconomic trend;an presenting the trend score to a user interface on a client device.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thetoll-free telecommunications system includes a plurality of carriers.

A method of searching for a toll-free number according to one disclosednon-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure can include storing auser's toll-free number search history, wherein the search historyincludes at least one search parameter entered by the user whensearching for an available toll-free number; identifying criteria of acustomer-desired toll-free number based at least in part on the searchparameter; associating each of a toll-free number inventory with atleast one search parameter; searching the inventory for a toll-freenumber matching the criteria of the customer-desired toll-free number;and sending an offer to the user, wherein the offer includes anotification of the available toll free number matching the criteria ofthe customer desired toll-free number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereinidentifying the search number history includes identifying the frequencyof a search for a particular toll free number.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include identifyingtoll free numbers that are to become available.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include identifying atoll free number associated with the search history with at least onetoll free number that is to become available.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include presentingpredictive search results at each future user login.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include presentingpredictive search results to the user on a recurring basis.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include presentingpredictive search results to the user via email on a subscription basis.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include examiningtoll-free numbers that are going to become available and determine ifthe toll-free numbers meet a pattern to which the user has expressedinterest.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, wherein thesearch number history includes at least one of searching a currentresponsible organization inventory, an overall search history, and alist of upcoming available toll free numbers.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include automaticallyreserving the toll free number associated with the previous searchnumber history to the user.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include, whereinoffer facilitates automatically reserving the toll-free number as afee-based function.

A method of searching for a toll-free number according to one disclosednon-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure can include storing alisting of toll-free numbers that are associated with a responsibleorganization, wherein the association is based at least in part on atoll-free number being managed by the responsible organization; enteringa search parameter for an available toll-free number, wherein the searchparameter is associated with a characteristic of a toll-free numberbeing managed by the responsible organization; receiving a toll-freenumber search result, based at least in part on the search parameter,wherein the toll-free number in the search result is among toll-freenumbers that are available for reservation; and sending an offer toreserve the toll-free number in the search result.

A method of searching for a toll-free number according to one disclosednon-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure can include entering asearch parameter for an available toll-free number; receiving a listingof toll-free numbers in a search result, based at least in part on thesearch parameter, wherein the toll-free numbers in the search result areordered according to their availability for reservation and includetoll-free numbers bearing a relation to the search parameter that arecurrently available for reservation and numbers that are not currentlyavailable for reservation but will become available within a time framedefined a user performing the search; and presenting the listing to theuser.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include presenting anoffer to reserve a toll-free number in response to the presenting thelisting.

A further embodiment of the present disclosure may include presenting ameans for the user to activate a toll-free number within the listing.

The foregoing features and elements may be combined in variouscombinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise.These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will becomemore apparent in light of the following description and the accompanyingdrawings. It should be appreciated, however, the following descriptionand drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description of the disclosed non-limitingembodiments. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can bebriefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 depicts a high level view of a toll-free management platform.

FIG. 2 depicts a simplified illustration of a toll-free managementplatform.

FIG. 3 depicts a schematic view for a decision tree for the CustomerRecord Template Builder (CRTB).

FIG. 4 depicts a schematic of an example conceptual Call ProcessingRecord (CPR) Routing Tree.

FIG. 5 depicts a simplified flow diagram for constructing a call routingtemplate based at least part on natural language inputs from a user.

FIG. 6 depicts a schematic view of a routing tree based disasterrecovery and performance statistic structure.

FIG. 7 depicts a schematic view of a customer dashboard structure.

FIG. 8 depicts a schematic view of a whitelist management for toll-freespam control system.

FIG. 9 depicts a schematic view of a Toll Free Number (TFN) abusereporting database for whitelist management for toll-free spam controlsystem.

FIG. 10 depicts a toll-free smart services central registry deployed inconjunction with an existing toll-free voice registry.

FIG. 11 depicts a candidate service enablement workflow deployed via atoll-free smart services central registry.

FIG. 12 depicts a schematic view of a systems page on a hard-flashedphone with a toll-free number.

FIG. 13 depicts a schematic view of a hard-flashed phone to a toll-freenumber that may be used for a customer or tech support call related tothe phone.

FIG. 14 depicts a schematic view of a Toll-Free Service Provider ID(TSPID).

FIG. 15 depicts a schematic view of real time machine based routing treeenhancements.

FIGS. 16-20 depict simplified schematic architecture views of toll-freeManagement Architectures.

FIG. 21 depicts a schematic view of a system for predictive analyticsbased on toll-free number utilization.

FIGS. 22-26 depict a schematic view of a system for search resultpopulation based on customer profile/behavior.

FIG. 27 depicts a simplified view of a toll-free ManagementArchitecture.

FIG. 28 depicts a North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA)format.

FIG. 29 depicts a schematic of an SS7 architecture.

FIG. 30 depicts a schematic of toll-free call processing.

FIG. 31 depicts a schematic of toll-free business interactions.

FIG. 32 depicts a schematic of a toll-free IP Future State.

FIG. 33 depicts a schematic of a Number Administration future state.

FIG. 34 depicts a schematic view of a system for tagging toll-freenumbers.

FIG. 35 depicts a schematic of a call routing future state.

FIGS. 36-39 are schematic views of a one-click activation system.

FIG. 40 is a schematic of a current system flow.

FIG. 41 depicts a Customer Record Status State Diagram.

FIG. 42 depicts a Customer Record Status State Diagram.

FIG. 43 depicts a schematic of a Carrier Identification Code (CIC)validations abbreviated summary flow from a service providerperspective.

FIG. 44 depicts a schematic of a Carrier Identification Code (CR)validations flow.

FIG. 45 depicts a schematic of Service Control Point (SCP) interactions.

FIG. 46 depicts a schematic of an API interface used by Customer RecordAdministration and Number Administration components of the disclosedembodiment.

FIG. 47 depicts a schematic representation of a disaster recoveryscenario.

FIG. 48 is an example of hourly Responsible Organization Searchactivity.

FIG. 49 is an example of hourly Responsible Organization Reservationactivity.

FIG. 50 is an example of hourly Responsible Organization Spare activity.

FIG. 51 depicts a graphical representation of daily customer recordsupdates.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures areillustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements inthe figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help toimprove understanding of embodiments of the methods and systemsdisclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will now be described in detail by describingvarious illustrative, non-limiting embodiments thereof with reference tothe accompanying drawings and exhibits. The disclosure may, however, beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as beinglimited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein. Rather, theembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andwill fully convey the concept of the disclosure to those skilled in theart. The claims should be consulted to ascertain the true scope of thedisclosure.

With reference to FIG. 1, a Toll-Free Management Platform (TFMP) 100includes methods and systems for number administration 102, customeradministration 104, call management services 108, texting services 110and text registry, and a smart services registry 112, as describedherein. The TFMP may allow users to search for, receive recommendationsfor, and make reservations of toll-free numbers 114. A user interfacemay allow activating a toll-free number, for example through a one-clickactivation function 118, as described herein. Users may access the TFMPto create and access existing templates 120 of toll-free call routingtemplates, and utilize a routing tree engine 122 to create customizedcall routing trees for the toll-free numbers of interest to the user. AToll-Free Service Provider ID “TSPID,” 124 may provide an aggregateidentifier for Service Registrars, who provide services such as, but notlimited to, SMS, MMS, video conferencing, and streaming content.Predictive analytic services 128 may be provided that allow a user 154through a customizable user interface, or “dashboard,” 132 to accessthird party data sources 144 and information derived from toll-freetelecommunications networks, including but not limited totelecommunications carriers 140, service control points 144, callcenters 142, or other parties affiliated with a toll-freetelecommunication network 138. Access to third party data sources 146outside of the TFMP 100 may be, for example, through the Internet 150, acloud computing environment 148, a virtual private network, or someother connectivity. A user 154 may access the reporting capabilities ofthe TFMP through a client device 152, such as a personal computer,mobile phone, tablet computer, or some other computing facility, andreceive data, including multimedia to the user's client device.Functionalities of the TFMP include, but are not limited to, NumberAdministration (NA) and Customer Record (CR) administration (FIG. 2).

With reference to FIG. 2, the main functional components of the TFMP100, illustrating examples of the functionality provided by the TFMP andinterfaces 204 to the TFMP 100. The NA function 102 may allow toll-freeproviders to search a pool of toll-free numbers using specified criteriaand reserve numbers that will be used by toll-free subscribers, andperform CR administration 104. This functionality may include, but isnot limited to, storing toll-free provider and telecommunications data210, reporting processes 212, billing, and service control point (SCP),and management functionality 220 for the coordination with SCPs 222.

Responsible organizations, also referred to herein as “RespOrgs,” 202,may utilize the TFMP 100. Reporting from the TFMP 100 may be back toRespOrgs or to other systems and platforms 124 that are external to theTFMP 100. The TFMP enables searching for any random number or to searchfor a plurality of numbers that are consecutive and/or include anindicated combination of digits. Since certain toll-free number codes(e.g. 800) and combinations of digits (e.g. repeating digits, digitswhose corresponding telephone keypad letter values spell a word orphrase) may be considered most desirable, the NA function 102 includescapabilities for searches and reservations to be handled so that atoll-free provider does not gain an advantage to reserve a giventoll-free number.

The TFMP 100 also enables tracking the overall assignment of numbers foreach toll-free provider to enforce regulations for toll-free numberallocation specified by a tariff. NA may maintain a status for eachnumber that reflects whether it has been reserved and whether a customerrecord has been created and sent to SCPs. It is possible to query theTFMP 100 for status and reservation information associated with a tollfree number.

A view of the main functional components which is intended to illustratethe functionality provided by embodiments of the system and is notintended to reflect design or implementation of the current system or apotential replacement system. In addition to the functional componentsembodiments may alternatively or additionally provide Operations,Administration, Maintenance, and Provisioning (OAM&P) capabilities toconfigure, maintain, monitor and audit the system.

The NA function 102 facilitates toll-free service providers to searchthe pool of toll-free numbers using specified criteria and reservenumbers that can be used by toll-free subscribers. It is possible tosearch for any random number or to search for a number or numbers thatmay be consecutive and/or include an indicated combination of digits.Numbers may be reserved on a First In-First Out basis. It is alsonecessary to track the overall assignment of numbers for each toll-freeservice provider in order to enforce regulations for toll-free numberallocation specified by a tariff.

The NA function 102 may maintain a status for each number that reflectswhether it has been reserved and whether a customer record has beencreated and sent to SCPs. It is possible to query embodiments of thesystem for status and reservation information associated with a number.

-   -   A reserved toll-free number becomes active when routing        information for the number, specified in a CR, is uploaded into        SCPs. The CR administration 104 function facilitates toll-free        service providers to create a CR and to specify when the        information should be sent to SCPs. Records can be updated or        deleted and the send time can be updated prior to sending. Once        a CR has been sent, a record can be created to update or delete        the routing specified by the previous record. The routing        information specified in a customer record may typically        includes:        -   An Area of Service (AOS) that specifies from where the            toll-free number can receive calls;        -   The carrier that can route calls to the toll-free number;        -   The terminating number that can receive calls to the            toll-free number; and        -   Optionally, a set of rules that specifies different routing            based on criteria like time of day and area from where the            call originated.

Carriers who have arrangements to carry calls for a toll-free serviceprovider may approve the CR when routing for a toll-free number has beenassigned to the carrier. The CR administration 104 maintains a list ofcarriers and preferences for whether approval is required when atoll-free service provider indicates the carrier in a CR. A notificationis sent carrier when approval of a CR is required. Each CR has anassociated status. CRs can be queried to view the status and informationcontained in the record, based on the permissions of the user.

The user interface function facilitates manual access for human usersand mechanized access for systems to make use of the NA and CRfunctions. The mechanized interface provided by a current system isknown as Mechanized Generic Interface (MGI). Capabilities may berequired for external users to establish data connectivity withembodiments of the system and gain access to the available functions. Inembodiments, the system can maintain logins and passwords to providesecurity to limit system access to only authorized users. Permissionlevels that restrict access to system functions and to proprietary datamay be assigned for each authorized user. In addition, the userinterface function may provide notifications and other information toexternal users using mechanisms such as email and File Transfer Protocol(FTP).

In embodiments, interfaces are maintained to send routing informationfrom CRs to SCPs. The SCP Management Function manages interactions withSCPs, including maintaining data connectivity, sending CR information atthe specified date and time and monitoring responses in order to updatecustomer record status. The SCP interface is specified by TM-STS-00798,CMSDB/SMS Interface Specification Manual and Interface Message Manual.

The SCP Administration functions allow users to establish and modifySCP-related reference data in embodiments of the system and sendmessages to the SCP node and the Call Management Services Database(CMSDB) within the SCP to manage data tables at the SCP.

Network management functions for toll-free database service involves themanagement of various automatic capabilities intended to monitor andcontrol toll-free query traffic and calling volumes at the ServiceControl Points, Service Switching Points, terminating switches andterminating subscriber lines. When various call volume thresholds may beexceeded, the SCPs trigger Automatic Code Gapping (ACG) controls at theoriginating SSPs. The Network Management functions allow networkmanagers to configure and adjust the relevant control parameters. Datacollection at the SCPs can be requested to provide network managers withrelevant surveillance information useful to monitor traffic and analyzeproblems, such as the detection of SCP overloads and excessive callingor excessive ineffective attempts to dialed codes.

To track user actions, system events, and performance statistics andformat the information into reports for toll-free service providers andsystem administrators, embodiments of the system may providecapabilities for users to request reports and for delivery of reportresults in various formats. Reports may be requested online by users asper the assigned permissions and delivered over the interface on whichthe report was requested. It is also possible for users to requestreports offline. Offline reports may be compiled in embodiments by thesystem administrator using information provided by the system. It shouldbe appreciated that other requests may be performed.

The disclosed embodiment may track and report on events that can resultin charges to toll-free service providers. A tariff specifies the rateelements that can result in charges on a monthly bill and the rate to becharged. A tariff specifies the rate elements that can result in chargeson a monthly bill and the rate to be charged. These includeestablishment of a system logon ID, monthly access to the system,reservation of a toll-free number, and report requests. Informationprovided by embodiments of the system is needed to calculate monthlycharges and create monthly bills that may be sent to each toll-freeservice provider.

The user interface function facilitates manual access for human usersand mechanized access for systems to make use of the NA and CR functionsprovided by the disclosed embodiment. The mechanized interface providedby the current system is known as Mechanized Generic Interface (MGI).Capabilities may be required for external users to establish dataconnectivity with the system and gain access to the available functions.The system maintains logins and passwords to provide security to limitsystem access to only authorized users. Permission levels that restrictaccess to system functions and to proprietary data may be assigned foreach authorized user. In addition, the user interface function providesnotifications and other information to external users using mechanismssuch as email and File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

The security function defines a security framework that identifies theaspects of a system or service that require security and the methodsavailable to address the security threats for each. From a securityperspective, a system or service can be viewed as consisting of user,control and Management planes. Each plane includes infrastructure,services, and application layers.

Toll free may have unique IP requirements. The North American NumberingPlan Administration (NANPA) administers geographic numbers. Numberportability is handled through the Number Portability AdministrationCenter (NPAC). Toll-free numbers require enhanced number managementcapabilities for the following primary reasons:

-   -   The significantly higher search load on NPAC due to unique        toll-free search patterns diluting and distracting from its core        purpose.    -   Toll-free numbers have strict rules around hoarding, bartering,        auctioning and fair trade practices.    -   Toll-free numbers differ in their access patterns compared to        geographic numbers:    -   Toll-free numbers have to go through an allocation process for        assignment and sparing, as specified by the FCC.    -   Toll-free numbers have strict rules around hoarding, bartering,        auctioning and fair trade practices.

Prior to assigning toll-free numbers, owners traverse a validation andvetting process to establish identity compared to straight numberallocation for a geographic number. Vanity toll-free numbers typicallymay be searched millions of times during a day compared to 100s ofsearches for a geographic number in an entire year.

Toll-free number portability has its own set of rules that may be morestrict and different from geographic numbers. Relying solely on thegeographic number NPAC would be inadequate since toll-free numbersdiffer in their use and management from geographic numbers.

The NA function 102 may allow toll-free providers to search a pool oftoll-free numbers using specified criteria and reserve numbers that willbe used by toll-free subscribers, and perform CR administration 218.This functionality may include, but is not limited to, storing toll-freeprovider and telecommunications data 210, reporting processes 212,billing, service control point (SCP), and management functionality 220for the coordination with SCPs 222. Responsible organizations, alsoreferred to herein as “RespOrgs,” 202, may utilize the TFMP 100.Reporting from the TFMP 100 may be back to RespOrgs or to other systemsand platforms 224 that are external to the TFMP 100. The TFMP 100facilitates searching for any random number or to search for a pluralityof numbers that are consecutive and/or include an indicated combinationof digits. Since certain toll-free number codes (e.g. 800) andcombinations of digits (e.g. repeating digits, digits whosecorresponding telephone keypad letter values spell a word or phrase) maybe considered most desirable, the NA function 102 includes capabilitiesfor searches and reservations to be handled so that a toll-free providerdoes not gain an advantage to reserve a given toll-free number. The TFMPalso enables tracking the overall assignment of numbers for eachtoll-free provider in order to enforce regulations for toll-free numberallocation specified by a tariff. The NA function 102 may maintain astatus for each number that reflects whether it has been reserved andwhether a customer record has been created and sent to SCPs. It ispossible to query the TFMP 100 for status and reservation informationassociated with a number.

The TFMP 100 enables customer record administration, allowing toll-freeproviders to create a customer record and to specify when theinformation should be sent to SCPs. A reserved toll-free number maybecome active when routing information for the number, specified in acustomer record, is uploaded into SCPs. Customer records may be updatedor deleted and the send time updated prior to sending. Once a customerrecord has been sent, a new record may be created to update or deletethe routing specified by the previous record. The routing informationspecified in a customer record may include, but is not limited to:

-   -   An Area of Service (AOS) that specifies from where the toll-free        number can receive calls    -   The carrier that will route calls to the toll-free number    -   The terminating number that will receive calls to the toll-free        number    -   A set of rules that specifies different routing based on        criteria like time of day and area from where the call        originated

Carriers who have arrangements to carry calls for a toll-free providermay wish to approve customer records when routing for a toll-free numberhas been assigned to the carrier. The customer record function maymaintain a list of carriers and preferences for whether approval isrequired when a toll-free provider indicates the carrier in a customerrecord. A notification may be sent to a carrier when approval of acustomer record is required. In embodiments, each customer record mayhave an associated status. Customer records may be queried to view thestatus and information contained in the record, based on the permissionsof the user.

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the TFMP may include auser interface functionality that allows manual access for human usersand mechanized access for systems (such as an application programminginterface) to make use of the NA and CR functions provided by the TFMP.The user interface functionality may be embodied in a distributedcomputing environment, such as a “cloud” based computing network. Inanother embodiment, the user interface functionality may be embodied inhybrid networks, including usage of a cellular telephone network (andassociated mobile communication devices, such as smart phones), adistributed, cloud network and an enterprise network associated with acarrier or other business organization (and any combination orsub-combination of such networks). The mechanized interface provided bythe TFMP may also allow external users to establish data dynamicconnectivity with the platform and gain access to its availablefunctions. The TFMP may maintain logins, passwords, encryption,authentication, and the like to provide security to limit system accessto only authorized users. Permission levels that restrict access toTFMP's functions and to proprietary data may be assigned for eachauthorized user, and stored locally or remotely to an enterpriseutilizing the TFMP, including within a computing storage facility thatis remote to, but operatively coupled, with the TFMP. In embodiments,the user interface functionality may provide real time notifications andother information to external users using mechanisms such as email andFile Transfer Protocol (FTP).

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the TFMP may provide aninterface to send routing information from CRs to SCPs. The SCPManagement Function of the TFMP may enable management of interactionswith SCPs, including maintaining data connectivity, sending CRinformation at the specified date and time, and monitoring responses inorder to update customer record status. The SCP interface may include aninterface that is based on the specification provided by TM-STS-00798,CMSDB/SMS Interface Specification Manual and Interface Message Manual.

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the SCP administrationfunctions of the TFMP may allow users to establish and modifySCP-related reference data in the system and send messages to the SCPnode and the Call Management Services Data Base (CMSDB) within the SCPto manage data tables at the SCP. Network management functions fortoll-free database services may involve the management of variousautomatic capabilities intended to monitor and control toll-free querytraffic and calling volumes at the SCPs, Service Switching Points,terminating switches, terminating subscriber lines, and the like. Whenvarious call volume thresholds are exceeded, the SCPs may triggerAutomatic Code Gapping (ACG) controls at the originating SSPs. TheTFMP's management functions may allow network managers to configure andadjust relevant control parameters. Data collection at the SCPs may berequested through the TFMP to provide network managers with surveillanceinformation that is useful to monitor traffic and analyze problems, suchas the detection of SCP overloads and excessive calling or excessiveineffective attempts to dialed codes.

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the TFMP may enablereporting functionalities that allow tracking user actions, systemevents, performance statistics, and other events and formatting theinformation into reports for toll-free providers and systemadministrators. The TFMP may provide capabilities for users to requestreports and for delivery of report results in a plurality of formats.Reports may be requested online by users as per the assigned permissionsand delivered over the interface on which the report was requested.Requests may be made from any computing facility, including, but notlimited to, a personal computer, laptop computer, tablet, mobilecommunication facility (such as a smart phone), or some other type ofcomputing device. It may also be possible for users to request reportsoff-line using the TFMP. For example, a system administrator usinginformation provided by the platform may dynamically compile off-linereports. In embodiments, the TFMP may track and report on real timeevents that will result in charges to toll-free providers. A tariffspecifies the rate elements that may result in charges on a monthly billand the rate to be charged. These may include, but are not limited by,establishment of a system logon ID, monthly access to the system,reservation of a toll-free number, report requests, or some other typeof element. Information provided by the TFMP may be needed to calculatemonthly charges and create monthly bills that are sent to each toll-freeprovider.

The current practice of managing toll-free numbers and activities, andthe tools currently available to users for building a complex customerrecord, are very often single threaded and cumbersome. In addition, thecurrent industry practices do not provide the ability to define adefault customer record for a user, in part because it may not beintuitive to build a complex customer record. According to the methodsand systems presently disclosed, the TFMP may provide tools that workintelligently with the user, allowing a natural language input, such asEnglish words, to translate and map such language to signifiers that maybe less familiar to a user, such as call routing codes. This translationand mapping of natural language to toll-free number managementinformation and data may produce a dynamic, complex customer record,including using existing user records and usage data, to populateinformation for the user. This may speed the creation of complex routingand other metadata that is associated with a toll-free line, based atleast in part on the TFMP enabling the dynamic querying of the real timestatus of data that is associated with a toll-free number, guide theuser in providing the necessary natural language information that allowsthe TFMP to map such language to toll-free number metadata (e.g.,routing codes), and store and implement a complex decision treedescribing the actions to take for a given toll-free number.

In an example, the TFMP may provide a user interface in which a usertypes a command such as “Route all incoming calls made to toll-freenumbers having the extension 571 to the technical support staff.” TheTFMP may take this natural language input and map it to routing codes orother data corresponding to the natural language. In another example,the natural language may be selected from a menu that is provided in theuser interface of the TFMP, provided via voice command using voicerecognition software, via scanned text that is input to the TFMP, orusing some other means of conveying natural language. The CustomerRecord Template Builder (CRTB) of the TFMP may allow building a complexcustomer record template using a user interface, enabling that record tobe designated as the default customer record. Using the TFMP, atoll-free provider may build multiple complex customer record templatesfor their use and define a record as the default customer record,allowing the user to select the default with a single click, thusreducing their work effort.

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the CRTB may lead a userthrough an initial customer data population (known as the CustomerAdministrative Data (CAD) portion), and also the call routing logic(Call Processing Record; known as the CPR portion) that is associatedwith a toll-free number, by utilizing the TFMP user interface toconstruct a decision tree logic structure with defined data nodesderived from the user's natural language inputs.

Based upon the decisions at the nodes in the decision tree that isconstructed by the TFMP, the user interface may drive down a branch to anew decision node ultimately driving the customer record decision logicto the lowest level. In embodiments, decision trees constructed by theTFMP based on a user's input may represent a series of decision points.Each decision point may be called a node and off of each node may be oneof more branches. The point at which there are no more decisions to bemade may be referred to as a leaf and used as the “end point” of abranching structure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example generic visualization of one possibledecision tree structure 300 created by the TFMP 100. For example, a callto a particular toll-free number may initially have a node 302 based onthe area code from which the toll-free number is called, to segregate anEast Coast or West Coast technical support staff. Then, the next nodemay be a time node to segregate the time of day between business hourswhere the call is routed to the technical support staff, or afterbusiness hours where the call is routed to a voice-mail system. Thedecision tree may further branch into “leaves” 304, 308 to indicateadditional routing rules, such as specifying a single termination numberfor a received call to be routed to, a particular department within anorganization, or some other routing tree rule. The TFMP performs suchrouting essentially instantaneously or near instantaneously.

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the CAD portion of theCRTB may logically lead a user to populate information including, butnot limited to, the following:

-   -   Administrative data about the toll-free customer        -   Toll-Free Number        -   Effective Date and Time        -   Control Toll Free Provider Identifier        -   End Customer Name        -   End Customer Address    -   Area of Service (AOS)    -   List of destination telephone number(s)    -   Carrier Identification Codes (CICs) for IntraLATA and InterLATA        traffic

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, complex customer record(CPR) decision nodes that may be supported by the TFMP include, but arenot limited to, the following:

-   -   Originating State    -   Originating Numbering Plan Area (NPA)    -   Originating LATA    -   Originating Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) Central Office        Exchange (NXX)    -   Originating POTS NPANXX    -   Originating POTS number    -   Specific date    -   Day(s) of the week    -   Time-of-day range    -   Percent load share, which may be used to automatically direct        different percentages of processed queries (calls) to different        branches below the node.

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the “leaves” that may besupported by the TFMP data model at the ends of a given branch include,but are not limited to, the following:

-   -   Destination Telephone Number    -   Carrier    -   Announcement Treatment

With reference to FIG. 4, a simplified depiction of a customer recordrouting, created using the TFMP, is provided. In this simple example,starting from the left-most branched path, the three decision pathscorresponding to the decision trees branched paths may be represented asa routing from a toll-free number 400, detecting an area code 402, anexchange 404, carrier 408, and terminating telephone number 410, as inthe following example:

-   -   Area Code=732, NXX={699,494}, Carrier=ATX-0288,        Tel#=800-234-5678    -   Area Code=732, NXX=Other, Carrier=MCI-0222, Tel#=800-234-5678    -   Area Code=Other, NXX=<null>, Carrier=MCI-0222,        Tel#=800-234-5678.

Continuing the example of FIG. 4 using the TFMP, the CRTB toll may bebuilt in such a manner to allow a user to work though the decision treeand anticipate/prepopulate information based upon the informationalready provided in this build or also information provided in previouscustomer record entries. Once a default customer record template isbuilt, the TFMP may invoke this template when creating a customer recordfor a new number, thus reducing the time and effort for a subsequentcustomer record to be built. Invocation of the default customer recordtemplate by the TFMP may also serve to reduce human error associatedwith the manual creation of such records insofar as the template mayalready embody necessary data, thereby not requiring a user to rememberor retrieve the same.

With reference to FIG. 5, the methods and systems of the presentdisclosure may provide for pre-populating a call routing template basedon natural language inputs including, associating a natural languageelement 500 with a telecommunications routing code 502, thetelecommunications routing code associated with decision tree logicassociating routing of incoming calls to a toll-free number 504; storingthe association in a database 508 that is associated with a toll-freetelecommunications system; receiving a natural language input 512 from auser 510, the natural language input 512 may include the naturallanguage element 500; selecting the telecommunications routing code 514based at least in part on the stored association 504; populating thetelecommunications routing code 518 at a node of a call routing decisiontree 520 to generate a populated call routing decision tree 522; andstoring the populated call routing decision tree as a call routingtemplate 524 that may be identified and presented to a user interfacebased at least in part on the natural language input.

In embodiments, a natural language input may be a text or voice element.A text element may be a scanned text element. A voice element may beobtained by voice recognition software.

In embodiments, the decision tree logic may determine the call pathtaken by an incoming toll-free call to a termination number, the callpath taken by an incoming toll-free call based at least in part on thetime of day the incoming call is received, the call path taken by anincoming toll-free call based at least in part on the geographiclocation of the device from which the incoming call is received, thecall path taken by an incoming toll-free call within a business entitiestelecommunications system, or some other call path outcome.

Further provided herein are methods and systems for creating a callrouting decision tree, the system comprising a user device of a userconfigured to receive a natural language input from a user; select astored call routing template, wherein the selection is based at least inpart on a stored association of the call routing template and a naturallanguage element that is included in the natural language input; presentthe stored call routing template to the user within a graphic userinterface; receive a command from the user, through the graphic userinterface, to associate the selected call routing template with atoll-free number indicated by the user; and store the associationbetween the call routing template and the toll-free number.

In embodiments, the command from the user may be text-based, such as atext-based item that is presented within the graphic user interface in amenu or other location. In embodiments, the command may be a voicecommand.

The following are illustrative clauses demonstrating non-limitingembodiments of the disclosure described herein:

A method of pre-populating a call routing template based on naturallanguage inputs comprising:

-   -   associating a natural language element with a telecommunications        routing code, the telecommunications routing code associated        with decision tree logic associating routing of incoming calls        to a toll-free number;    -   storing the association;    -   receiving a natural language input from a user, wherein the        natural language input includes the natural language element;    -   selecting the telecommunications routing code based at least in        part on the stored association;    -   populating the telecommunications routing code at a node of a        call routing decision tree to generate a populated call routing        decision tree;    -   storing the populated call routing decision tree as a call        routing template that may be identified and presented to a user        interface based at least in part on the natural language input.

A system for creating a call routing decision tree, the systemcomprising:

-   -   a user device of a user configured to:    -   receive a natural language input from a user;    -   select a stored call routing template, wherein the selection is        based at least in part on a stored association of the call        routing template and a natural language element that is included        in the natural language input;    -   present the stored call routing template to the user within a        graphic user interface;    -   receive a command from the user, through the graphic user        interface, to associate the selected call routing template with        a toll-free number indicated by the user; and    -   store the association between the call routing template and the        toll-free number.

In embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 6, the TFMP may facilitatedetermining toll-free network congestion in real-time. The TFMP systemmay include a subsystem, referred to as a “node,” and in this exampleembodiment called the Percent (%) Node 602. This node may be used tobuild a decision tree that is downloaded to the SCPs. The Percent Nodemay allow a tree to be built so that a certain percentage of the callsare routed to different branches on the call tree. The Percentage may bewhole numbers and can range from 0% to 100%, with the total percentagefor all sibling branches not to exceed 100%. This may allow Resp Orgs touse the TFMP as their disaster recovery routing for a toll-free number.In an example, a call routing tree may be built with multiple branchesto different locations, such as terminating numbers. In a normalsituation, 100% of the calls may go to a main location 604. In adisaster, which could be a carrier system failure, for example, andwhich may originate outside of the carrier itself, a call routing tablecreated according to the Percent Node and related rules may allow thatall calls are diverted to another branch 608, 610 on the tree that usesa different carrier.

In embodiments, real time network data may be used by the TFMP tocreate, and allow Resp Orgs to use, a “congestion threshold” node in thecall routing tree. This may allow a Resp Org to determine with an endsubscriber the appropriate congestion threshold for each branch in acall routing table. For example, if one call center can only handle 200calls per minute before calls are placed in queue, and statistics showfor this end subscriber that wait times start to creep up to 20 minuteswhen 1000 calls per minutes are received, and they do not want this tooccur, the ability to obtain real time call counts/congestion will allowthe SCP to route the calls using call counts/congestion in addition toall the other possible call decision nodes. Call counts may be veryspecific to an end subscriber, and congestion thresholds may differ anddepend on congestion on the line as a whole. The congestion measurementand threshold value may allow detecting congestion issues and routing toanother branch, including one that may be in a different area, should acongestion threshold be reached. This may occur in real-time without aneed to change the routing tree. The TFMP may confirm real-time callcount information that is available from SCPs and use such data toconfirm real-time network congestion. Call count information may befurther organized and analyzed by TSPID to permit tracking, for example,by service provider.

In embodiments, nodes in a call routing table may be mapped to real-timeinformation in the SCPs from the network. With the decision nodesembedded in the call tree and loaded into the SCPs, real-time routingmay be provided by the TFMP. In embodiments, a call routing table may bea crowd-sourced translation table associated with the TSS that mayenable mapping of service providers to unique identifiers, as describedherein. Such a mapping would enable a registry that may be used by thirdparties to locate the plurality of identifiers that may be associatedwith a service provider or plurality of service providers.

In embodiments, nodes in a call routing table may be used to facilitatepredictive analytic services that may be provided to allow a user,through the customizable user interface, or “dashboard,” to access thirdparty data services, sponsored data and information derived fromtoll-free telecommunications networks, including but not limited totelecommunications carriers, service control points, call centers, orother parties affiliated with a toll-free telecommunication network.Nodes in a call routing table may also be utilized with origination datathat may be combined with social media and other public domain thirdparty data, and near real-time, apply a valuation model to display atrends and prices on an interactive map via the TFMP.

In embodiments, nodes in a call routing table may be used to facilitatereporting capabilities of the TFMP through a client device, such as apersonal computer, mobile phone, tablet computer, or some othercomputing facility, and receive data, including multimedia to the user'sclient device. Functionalities of the TFMP include, but are not limitedto, Number Administration (NA) and Customer Record (CR) administration.

In embodiments, the TFMP may determine accessibility among VoIP andtandem calls. For example, with VoIP the TFMP may ping an IP address atregular intervals to determine status. Using real-time networkinformation and static call routing information, the TFMP may create areal-time call path score. SCPs may also be a source of real-time callrouting data. SCPs are in the call path of every toll-free call. Theability to collect real-time data about every call, and every carrier,based on dates, times, day of week, and locations are available to SCPs.Using this information it is possible to extrapolate and determineuptime, downtime, congestion, geographical movement and economicmovement of people communicating via calls. Based on real-time data thatcan be obtained from the SCPs and from the network, the TFMP may createa score that can be assigned to each call decision node. Similar to amapping algorithm that uses distance and speed limit, given a startingpoint and a destination, the quickest or shortest map may be mapped.Changes in the call routing tree may be dependent upon an update to therouting tree that is then validated by the TFMP and then downloaded tothe SCPs. With the use of real-time data, and more network decisionsnodes added to a call routing tree based on the needs of the endsubscriber, the TFMP may provide the ability to allow an end subscriberto have real-time business continuity for their toll-free number insteadof having to contact their service provider, or getting a ticket openedto update their routing tree, and then having it download to all theSCPs for the new routing to take place.

In embodiments, a call path score and real-time routing may be based onthe best possible availability score. This may also be modified by theTFMP to allow for lowest cost score, based on the per-call andper-minute cost for particular carrier. The call score may be updatedduring low activity periods with a date/time stamp associated with it.This may allow real-time, or near real time, detection of a path'sstatus. Upon completion of a call down a particular path, the TFMP mayalso update the call path score, thereby keeping the score up-to-date.

In embodiments, nodes in a call routing table may be used to facilitatedetermination of the call path score such that real-time routing may bedisplayed via a distributed computing environment, such as a cloud-basedcomputing network. In another embodiment, such systems may be hybridnetworks, including usage of a cellular telephone network (andassociated mobile communication devices, such as smart phones), adistributed, cloud network and an enterprise network associated with acarrier or other business organization (and any combination orsub-combination of such networks).

The following are illustrative clauses demonstrating non-limitingembodiments of the disclosure described herein:

A method comprising:

-   -   creating at least two toll-free call routing tables based on a        congestion threshold criterion, wherein the first of the two        call routing tables is to be used when toll-free call volumes        occurring within a toll-free telecommunications carrier network        are below the congestion threshold, and the second of the two        call routing tables is to be used when toll-free call volumes        occurring within a toll-free telecommunications carrier network        are equal to or above the congestion threshold;    -   providing the call routing tables to at least one service        control point that is associated with the toll-free        telecommunications carrier network;    -   monitoring toll-free call volumes and durations occurring within        a toll-free telecommunications carrier network;    -   receiving at least one of a call count datum or call duration        datum from the toll-free telecommunications carrier network        wherein the call count datum or call duration datum indicates a        change in call volumes over the toll-free telecommunications        carrier network from below the congestion threshold to above the        congestion threshold; and    -   instructing the service control point to switch from using the        first call routing table to the second call routing table.

A method comprising:

associating a toll-free telecommunications network congestion thresholdcriterion with a first rule regarding the usage of a plurality of callrouting tables, and a second rule regarding the usage of a plurality oftelecommunications carriers, wherein the congestion threshold criterionindicates a level of toll-free call volumes occurring within thetoll-free telecommunications network; and

switching toll-free calls across the telecommunications carriers basedat least on the congestion threshold criterion, wherein the switchedcalls are further routing according to at least one of the plurality ofcall routing tables.

A method comprising:

-   -   creating at least two toll-free call routing tables based on a        congestion threshold criterion, wherein the first of the two        call routing tables is to be used when toll-free call volumes        occurring within a toll-free telecommunications carrier network        are below the congestion threshold, and the second of the two        call routing tables is to be used when toll-free call volumes        occurring within a toll-free telecommunications carrier network        are equal to or above the congestion threshold;    -   providing the call routing tables to at least one service        control point that is associated with the toll-free        telecommunications carrier network;    -   monitoring toll-free call volumes and durations occurring within        a toll-free telecommunications carrier network;    -   receiving at least one of a call count datum or call duration        datum from the toll-free telecommunications carrier network        wherein the call count datum or call duration datum indicates a        change in call volumes over the toll-free telecommunications        carrier network from below the congestion threshold to above the        congestion threshold;    -   creating a second congestion threshold criterion based on the        data received from the toll-free telecommunications network; and    -   creating a third call routing table based on the second        congestion threshold criterion.

In the current industry practice, updates and additions to toll-freeproviders numbers are not available through conventional platformreporting capabilities for up to 24 hours. This makes it difficult forend users to call up information about work done on the current day. Ifa toll-free number is reserved and for whatever reason the user does notrecord the actual number, there is often no way to find it, or alaborious search is required to assemble the necessary data elements forretrieval. One reason for the delay in the ability to report is thatreporting is sourced from a Report History Data Base (RHDB) that is onlypopulated with updates once a day. Additionally, most reporting from theRHDB is run in the background, thus in some cases, still furtherdelaying the response.

With reference to FIG. 7, in another disclosed non-limiting embodiment,the TFMP 100 provides the user with the ability to report on its numberportfolio in real time or near real time via an online customerdashboard 132. The online customer dashboard 132 may display simulatedgauges and dials, business graphics such as pie charts, bar charts andgraphs to provide overview that summarizes all pertinent data in one ortwo screens or views. The gauges and dials may be based upon real timedata that is stored within the TFMP. The TFMP may include a subsystem,referred to as a “node,” that may be used to build a decision tree thatis downloaded to the SCPs for use with the dashboard. The decision treemay be used in various manners as otherwise described to facilitate callefficiency.

The online customer dashboard may allow the user to see all its customerdata and drill down in the details in near real time. To do so, a datasource for the dashboard may maintain the data in real time or near realtime. The online customer dashboard may also be associated with a userprofile and security administration that grants permissions to differentgroups of users to access embodiments of the system to create, view,update and activate certain functions. The platform or system canimplement a role-based access control mechanism.

The online customer dashboard 132 may provide the user with a view intothe user portfolio of toll-free number information. This may allow auser to see basic number information about the toll-free numbers theuser has the authority to view. Predictive analytic services may also beprovided that allow a user, through the customizable user interface, ordashboard, to access third party data services, sponsored data andinformation derived from toll-free telecommunications networks,including but not limited to telecommunications carriers, servicecontrol points, call centers, or other parties affiliated with atoll-free telecommunication network. As elsewhere described, originationdata may be combined with social media and other public domain thirdparty data, and near real-time, apply a valuation model to display atrends and prices on an interactive map via the TFMP.

A user may also access the reporting capabilities of the TFMP through aclient device, such as a personal computer, mobile phone, tabletcomputer, or some other computing facility, and receive data, includingmultimedia to the user's client device. Functionalities of the TFMPinclude, but are not limited to, Number Administration (NA) and CustomerRecord (CR) administration. Such systems may alternatively oradditionally be embodied in a distributed computing environment, such asa cloud based computing network. In another embodiment, such systems maybe hybrid networks, including usage of a cellular telephone network (andassociated mobile communication devices, such as smart phones), adistributed, cloud network and an enterprise network associated with acarrier or other business organization (and any combination orsub-combination of such networks).

The online customer dashboard may utilize real time network statistics,sourced from carriers and the public domain, within an algorithm thatprovides a call path score. This call path score may be provided to LCRand SCPs to determine the net value of a route for display.

The online customer dashboard may also provide an alert system similarto Internet alerts for toll-free numbers. Numbers, or groups of numbers,may be tagged based on tag groups. The alert system for toll-freenumbers may use a subscription prioritization engine and offer premiumservices for service prioritization.

The online customer dashboard for a toll-free voice registry may sharereserved, assigned, and working numbers with the Toll-Free Texting andSmart Services Registry (TSS).

The online customer dashboard may initially provide a main dashboardscreen from which the user may drill down within a specific toll-freenumber to investigate more detailed information thereof. In one example,the main dashboard screen may provide a base set, or minimum list ofdata elements that are available, including, but not limited to, thefollowing:

-   -   User Information        -   Toll Free Provider        -   User Id        -   Last Login        -   Amount of numbers reserved    -   Number Information (a list of all toll free numbers associated        with this provider)        -   Toll Free Number        -   Number Status        -   Date Reserved        -   Date Last Updated        -   Customer Name

The user can then drill down into the particular toll free number byclicking on that particular number to find more detailed informationsuch as, Area of Service, Carrier(s), Call Routing, Reserve numbers, orother information associated with a toll-free number.

A user may also view the history of the number i.e. “the life of atoll-free number.” By selecting a particular toll free number, thehistory of use of the toll free number may be readily viewable. Variouscharts, timelines, and usage data may be included therein. Thisfunctionality may allow a user to view and report on the status andactivities of an entire RespOrg in real time, rather than parts of aRespOrg's activity and/or only at predefined time intervals (e.g., onceper day).

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the online customerdashboard is not a view only tool, but may provide additional oralternative features to be customized by the user. That is individualusers may select their desired types of information available via theirdashboard.

Such features may include, but are not limited to, the following:

-   -   Customer information updates from the dashboard.    -   System alerts pertaining to all users    -   Historical customer usage information and populate information        to the user such as suggestions of available numbers    -   Alerts announcing the upcoming availability of numbers that the        customer has previously searched for    -   Billing alerts and notification of payments made

Overall, the online customer dashboard may provide a single startingpoint for any user working with toll free numbers. Having a singlelocation may allow a user of the system to use a single user interface(the dashboard) to view the entirety of activity that is associated witha plurality of toll-free numbers.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the TFMP may include a toll-free numberrating registry (TFRR) 802, that functions as a service to providecustomers an indication of how often a toll-free number is abused, suchas by fraudulent, frequent calling to increase billing costs. The ratingmay be calculated based on input from users, automated systems and/orproprietary algorithms that are collecting, storing and analyzing calldata from throughout the toll-free system.

In embodiments, the system may collect toll-free number abuseinformation 804 from a plurality of sources including, but not limitedto, a telephone service provider 808, toll-free number operators andResp Orgs. The abuse information may be collected and processed inreal-time to provide timely rating information for entities. Inembodiments, the TFMP may publish standard interfaces that reportingparties can invoke to register abuse. Such interfaces may allow clientsto connect synchronously and asynchronously. Interfaces may include, butare not limited to:

-   -   A web page    -   RestFul API    -   Mobile application

In embodiments, the abuse reporting interfaces that are associated withthe TFMP may be invoked in a manual or automated manner. In the case ofservice providers, the reporting of abuse may occur during call setup.This may necessitate that the reporting is automated and introduces theleast load on the device reporting the abuse. In an example, anasynchronous API may be made available to service providers for thispurpose. In another example, for call centers where toll-free numbersterminate, such as a technical support department of a company,call-center processing software may be enhanced to include a module todetect and report abuse.

Additionally, the TFMP may also provide a mobile or other applicationthat small business and single toll-free number users can use to reportabuse. The TFMP may include a subsystem, referred to as a “node,” thatmay be used to build a decision tree that is downloaded to the SCPs. Thedecision tree may be used in various manners to facilitate operation ofthe service as otherwise described to facilitate call efficiency. Theservice may alternatively or additionally be embodied in a distributedcomputing environment, such as a cloud based computing network. Inanother embodiment, such systems may be hybrid networks, including usageof a cellular telephone network (and associated mobile communicationdevices, such as smart phones), a distributed, cloud network and anenterprise network associated with a carrier or other businessorganization (and any combination or sub-combination of such networks).

In embodiments, to automate the processing of toll-free calls and reduceabuse, the TFMP system may be enhanced to allow customers to provisionan abuse route. This route may be distributed to the SCPs along withcurrent information being shared. When a service provider determinesthat a call being setup is an abuse call, they can use the abuse routespecified by the customer.

With reference to FIG. 9, an example abuse reporting interfacearchitecture 900 that is associated with the TFMP is provided. Thisabuse reporting interface may permit toll-free customers to report whena toll-free number abuse event occurs. The interface may allow for abuseto be reported manually and/or programmatically in an automated fashion.In embodiments, the abuse collection system described herein may collectinformation that includes, but is not limited to, the following:

-   -   TFN 904    -   Resp Org 908    -   Date/time of abuse Date/time of report 909    -   Originating number 910    -   Has the originating number been verified as authentic (i.e., not        spoofed) 912    -   Geographic location of the originating number 920    -   Geographic location of the terminating number 922

The abuse database 924 may also collect information about Resp Orgs andother industry details in an offline mode. The abuse information may becaptured in the toll-free number abuse database 924. This informationmay then be processed using a rating engine 928 to compute the toll-freenumber rating. The rating engine 928 may take into account a pluralityof factors including, but not limited to, input provided by Resp Orgs928, TSPID's associated with service providers, frequency of abuse 930,identified source of abuse, and the like, to compute a rating for thetoll-free number. In the absence of specific reports of abuse,predictive analytics methods of the TFMP, as described herein, may beused to infer abuse or unusual call activity, the results of which maybe used in computing a rating. In an embodiment, the identification ofabuse may be an inference of an abuse event produced by a predictiveanalytics engine that is associated with the TFMP based on at least acall history and metadata relating to calls placed over the toll-freetelecommunications number. In an example, 100 calls may be placed over atoll-free number, each of which by itself does not appear to be abusive.For example the calls may be placed from locations that do not appearsuspicious. However, an inference of abuse, based at least in part onthe totality of calls placed over the toll-free number, may be used bythe predictive analytics engine that is associated with the TFMP toinfer that abuse is occurring or has occurred. For example, the totalityof the calls may indicate a pattern indicative of abuse, or a callfrequency that is indicative of abuse or some other criterion that maybe used by the predicative analytics engine to infer that an abuseevent, or plurality of abuse events is occurring or has occurred. Inembodiments, a toll-free number rating may be a number between “0” and“100” that provides an indication of how often the number is abusedand/or how severe the abuse is. A number with “0” rating may indicate anumber that is never abused, and a number with a “100” rating mayindicate a number for which the majority of activity is abusive innature. The toll-free number rating may be made available to users ofthe TFMP, and may be used to make routing and other decisions about thetoll-free number.

Based on the rating of a toll-free number, the service provider may takea specific action to ensure legitimacy of a toll-free call. In additionto the number rating, the rating engine may also generate routing rulesto be shared with service providers. These rules may be imported by theservice provider into their call routing engine to automatically routeabusive calls in a manner that is consistent with the routing rules.These rules may also be used in combination with user profiles andsecurity administration may grant permissions to different groups ofusers to access the toll-free number rating to create, view, update andactivate certain functions. The system can implement a role-based accesscontrol mechanism. Predictive analytic services may be provided thatallow a user, through the customizable user interface, or “dashboard,”to access third party data services, sponsored data and informationderived from toll-free telecommunications networks, including but notlimited to telecommunications carriers, service control points, callcenters, or other parties affiliated with a toll-free telecommunicationnetwork. Origination data may also be combined with social media andother public domain third party data, and near real-time, apply avaluation model to display a trend and prices on an interactive map viathe TFMP.

The following are illustrative clauses demonstrating non-limitingembodiments of the disclosure described herein:

A method comprising:

-   -   storing a taxonomy of abuse events that may occur regarding the        usage of a toll-free number;    -   storing a rule regarding an action to take upon receipt of a        reported abuse event, wherein the rule specifies a routing rule        defining how a call that is associated with the abuse event is        to be routed over a toll-free telecommunications system;        -   receiving a report of abuse of a toll-free number;    -   identifying at least one abuse event within the stored taxonomy        and routing rule that is related to content of the abuse report;        and    -   automatically routing a call that is the subject of the abuse        report according to the routing rule.

A method comprising:

-   -   receiving a report of abuse of a toll-free number;    -   identifying an absence of an abuse event definition within a        stored taxonomy that is related to the type of abuse reported;    -   storing a new definition of the abuse event within the taxonomy;        and    -   creating a routing rule defining how a call that is associated        with the abuse event is to be routed over a toll-free        telecommunications system.

A method comprising:

-   -   storing a taxonomy of abuse events that may occur regarding the        usage of a toll-free number;    -   associating the abuse events in the taxonomy with a toll-free        number rating action;    -   receiving a report of abuse of a toll-free number;    -   identifying at least one abuse event within the stored taxonomy        and rating action that is related to content of the abuse        report;    -   automatically computing a rating for the toll-free number based        on the rating action; and    -   reporting the rating to an entity.

The following are illustrative clauses demonstrating non-limitingembodiments of the disclosure described herein:

A user device for presenting data to a user in real time regardingchanges in metadata associated with a toll-free number, the user deviceconfigured to:

-   -   receive an indication of a change in status of a toll-free        communications number, wherein the telecommunications number is        associated with a responsible organization that processes        toll-free telecommunications;    -   update a metadatum associated with the toll-free communications        number based at least in part on the change in status;    -   store the metadatum;    -   receive a status request from a user relating to the responsible        organization;    -   present the user with a graphic representation of the        telecommunications number's status

A method of toll-free telecommunications data visualization comprising:

-   -   presenting a data visualization dashboard to a mobile        application on a client device, wherein the presentation        includes a selectable listing of toll-free telecommunications        data parameters;    -   receiving a selection from the client device of the toll-free        telecommunications data parameters to analyze and at least one        type of data analysis to perform;    -   retrieving, in substantially real time, data relating to the        selected toll-free telecommunications data parameters;    -   analyzing the data according to the at least one type of data        analysis; and    -   presenting to the mobile application a summary of an analytic        result.

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the TFMP may provide aclick-to-chat tool. The click-to-chat tool enables users to quicklycontact a support representative through the user interface, dashboard,or other interface. The click-to-chat tool may integrate with existingweb based access, provides an immediate channel to a supportrepresentative, and may facilitate support training.

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the TFMP may provide asimplified two-factor authentication tool for maintaining identity andaccess security (e.g. dual factor authentication). This may eliminatethe need to use hard tokens and improve VPN accessibility.

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the TFMP may provide apassword self-service tool that provides the ability for self-servicepasswords and unlock logon IDs. This may be automated via structuredemail processes.

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the TFMP may provide areal-time status update tool that provides number counts and taskswithin the application. This may facilitate a real-time view of numbercounts and status (i.e. reserved, assigned, etc.)

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the TFMP may provideintegrated data stores and a reporting tool that integrates data storesfor consolidated reporting. This may facilitate the creation of a singleoperational data store to eliminate separate software as a servicelicenses and consolidated reporting for responsible organizations.

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the TFMP may provide asingle sign-on tool for Web Based Access (WBA), mechanized genericinterface (API), Website/Billing, Web-based Reporting System (WRS),Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), or someother network type.

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the TFMP may provide anenhanced configurability tool that allows administrators to configurethe limit of TFN that can be reserved in a single request, for example,more than 10. This may provide, for example, up to 5000 (would then do500 batch calls).

The present disclosure includes a toll-free management platform (TFMP)for providing services to toll free subscribers and providers, enablingthem to manage a plurality of toll-free numbers and tasks associatedwith such numbers. Functionalities of the TFMP include, but are notlimited to, Number Administration (NA) and Customer Record (CR)administration.

The TFMP enables searching for any number, random number or to searchfor a plurality of numbers that are consecutive and/or include anindicated combination of digits. Since certain toll-free number codes(e.g. 800) and combinations of digits (e.g. repeating digits, digitswhose corresponding telephone keypad letter values spell a word orphrase) may be considered most desirable, the NA function includescapabilities for searches and reservations to be handled so that atoll-free provider does not gain an advantage to reserve a giventoll-free number. The TFMP also enables tracking the overall assignmentof numbers for each toll-free provider in order to enforce regulationsfor toll-free number allocation specified by a tariff. NA may maintain astatus for each number that reflects whether it has been reserved andwhether a customer record has been created and sent to service controlpoints (SCPs). It is possible to query the TFMP for status andreservation information associated with a number.

The TFMP enables customer record administration, allowing toll-freeproviders to create a customer record and to specify when theinformation should be sent to SCPs. A reserved toll-free number maybecome active when routing information for the number, specified in acustomer record, is uploaded into SCPs. Customer records may be updatedor deleted and the send time updated prior to sending. Once a customerrecord has been sent, a new record may be created to update or deletethe routing specified by the previous record. The routing informationspecified in a customer record may include, but is not limited to:

-   -   An Area of Service (AOS) that specifies from where the toll-free        number can receive calls    -   The carrier that will route calls to the toll-free number    -   The terminating number that will receive calls to the toll-free        number    -   A set of rules that specifies different routing based on        criteria like time of day and area from where the call        originated

Carriers who have arrangements to carry calls for a toll-free providermay wish to approve customer records when routing for a toll-free numberhas been assigned to the carrier. The customer record function maymaintain a list of carriers and preferences for whether approval isrequired when a toll-free provider indicates the carrier in a customerrecord. A notification may be sent to a carrier when approval of acustomer record is required. In embodiments, each customer record mayhave an associated status. Customer records may be queried to view thestatus and information contained in the record, based on the permissionsof the user.

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the TFMP may include auser interface functionality that allows manual access for human usersand mechanized access for systems (such as an application programminginterface) to make use of the NA and CR functions provided by the TFMP.Such systems may be embodied in a distributed computing environment,such as a cloud based computing network. In another embodiment, suchsystems may be hybrid networks, including usage of a cellular telephonenetwork (and associated mobile communication devices, such as smartphones), a distributed, cloud network and an enterprise networkassociated with a carrier or other business organization (and anycombination or sub-combination of such networks). The mechanizedinterface provided by the TFMP may allow external users to establishdata dynamic connectivity with the platform and gain access to itsavailable functions. The TFMP may maintain logins, passwords,encryption, authentication, and the like to provide security to limitsystem access to only authorized users. Permission levels that restrictaccess to TFMP's functions and to proprietary data may be assigned foreach authorized user, and stored locally or remotely to an enterpriseutilizing the TFMP, including within a computing storage facility thatis remote to, but operatively coupled, with the TFMP. In embodiments,the user interface functionality may provide real time notifications andother information to external users using mechanisms such as email andFile Transfer Protocol (FTP).

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the TFMP may provide aninterface to send routing information from CRs to SCPs. The SCPManagement Function of the TFMP may enable management of interactionswith SCPs, including maintaining data connectivity, sending CRinformation at the specified date and time, and monitoring responses inorder to update customer record status.

In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the SCP administrationfunctions of the TFMP may allow users to establish and modifySCP-related reference data in the system and send messages to the SCPnode and the Call Management Services Data Base (CMSDB) within the SCPto manage data tables at the SCP. Network management functions fortoll-free database services may involve the management of variousautomatic capabilities intended to monitor and control toll-free querytraffic and calling volumes at the SCPs, Service Switching Points,terminating switches, terminating subscriber lines, and the like. Whenvarious call volume thresholds are exceeded, the SCPs may triggerAutomatic Code Gapping (ACG) controls at the originating SSPs. TheTFMP's management functions may allow network managers to configure andadjust relevant control parameters. Data collection at the SCPs may berequested through the TFMP to provide network managers with surveillanceinformation that is useful to monitor traffic and analyze problems, suchas the detection of SCP overloads and excessive calling or excessiveineffective attempts to dialed codes.

With reference to FIG. 10, in embodiments, the TFMP may provide aToll-Free Texting and Smart Services Registry (TSS) 1000 to supporttoll-free telephone numbers and related services, such as SMS, MMS andstreaming media. The TSS 1000 may include several components such as,but not limited to, number administration, call control and routeprovisioning, as well as number status assessment. The numberadministration function may provide number assignment for toll-freesubscribers as well as provide services to manage the toll-freenumbering plan. This component may provide for toll-free numberportability as well as managing the mapping of toll-free numbers togeographic numbers. The number administration function may also open newnumber plan administration codes. The number administration function mayforecast the exhaustion of codes and demand for codes for use byorganizations such as the FCC.

The call control and routing function may be responsible for providingintelligent routing for calls made to toll-free numbers. Toll-freesubscribers may have the ability to configure call routing to includemultiple carriers, time of day rules, and rules based on the caller'sproximity, among others. These rules may be downloaded to real-timenetwork routing databases or Service Control Points (SCPs) 1008. Thenumber status assessment function may determine the availability ofcertain numbers. Numbers may be reserved and assigned according toactivation date and then are deployed. The number status function mayassess whether numbers are spare, reserved, assigned, or currentlydeployed.

Providers of various smart services, such as voice, media, or textingservices, may be able to access the TSS that can be text enabled from alist of reserved, assigned, and working numbers. After numbers areidentified, an automated online letter of authorization/agency may beexecuted. The letter of authorization/agency may independentlydemonstrate authorization to a responsible organization that maintainsthe registration for individual toll-free numbers in a distributeddatabase. The distributed database may be associated with a distributedcomputing network, as described herein. Upon execution of the letter ofauthorization/agency, the information may then be provisioned toindustry routing databases for delivering various services, such as SMS(text) messaging, MMS messaging 1010, and content streaming, includingbut not limited to video content as well as future services 1012.

Letter of authorization/agency, as used herein, may include but is notlimited to communication used by a toll-free end subscriber, such asduring the provisioning phase of a toll-free number engagement, toenable that end subscriber to switch providers for a given telephone,messaging service, and the like. In an example, an end subscriber maywish to change its long distance provider so that a local company neednot be used. The long distance provider to whom the end subscriberwishes to do business would typically walk the end subscriber through anauthorization process to enable the end subscriber to switch longdistance carriers from the local company to the new company. Thisauthorization may manifest in the carrier's system as a letter ofauthorization/agency that documents the needed approvals from the endsubscriber.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the TSS may enable a letterof authorization/agency process for a provider to authorizing textingand other services on a toll-free number or plurality of toll-freenumbers that are used by an end subscriber. The letter ofauthorization/agency may be electronically stored and presented to theresponsible organization or owner of record for a given number orservice. The letter of authorization/agency may further define a timeframe during which certain actions, such as the turning on of textingservices for a toll-free number, are permitted. Such letters ofauthorization, as defined herein, may be further associated with storedprofiles of an owner of record and/or end subscriber. A letter ofauthorization/agency may allow a toll-free number end-user, or toll-freenumber subscriber, to authorize service enablement for services notcovered by their existing responsible organization. In this way,consumers can have multiple services enabled on a single telephonenumber, across multiple service providers. In an example, a letter ofauthorization/agency may authorize a responsible organization or otherentity to take a plurality of actions so that additional communicationwith, for example, an end subscriber is unnecessary and actions may betaken more quickly and efficiently. This may enable service registrars,and others, to activate new services, such as toll-free texting servicesor bandwidth increases on a shorter timeline, which may have commercialbenefits as speed activation of needed telecommunications services.

With reference to FIG. 11, in an embodiment of the present disclosure,the TSS may facilitate the enablement of a letter ofauthorization/agency process 1100 used to enable toll-free textingcapability and capture basic data such as customer name, responsibleorganization, service registrar, toll free number, service enablementdate, and letter of authorization/agency, status of services, or someother type of data associated with toll-free telephone numbers andservices. The TSS may facilitate the letter of authorization/agencyprocess by programmatically sending a notification to the responsibleorganization of record to memorialize the transaction. A timer may beset that will give the responsible organization a limited period of timeto dispute the transaction. If no action is taken, the transaction mayproceed and texting service enablement, or some other service type, maybe fulfilled in the TSS Registry. Continuing the example, this letter ofauthorization/agency process may be provided for each toll-free numberthat is provisioned 1102 in the TSS registry, or only a subset ofnumbers depending on the wishes of the end users.

In order to streamline the letter of authorization/agency process, a“blanket” letter of authorization/agency may be used whereby thecustomer of record may authorize a specific service registrar toprovision, update, and deactivate records in the TSS as needed 1104. Insuch cases, a notification may be sent to the responsible organizationto memorialize each transaction. In order to further streamline theletter of authorization/agency process, responsible organization's maychoose to put a “blanket” authorization on specific service registrar'swhich will allow the transaction to take place in real time 1108.

In embodiments, the TSS may allow electronic documentation to be storedand managed, providing a library of legal documentation that may be usedby the system in real time to facilitate transactions more efficiently,and to provide more concrete evidence of formal authorization through aphysical electronic document proving, for example, the end user'sidentity and validity.

In embodiments, the TSS may operate in conjunction with currenttoll-free services, including a toll-free voice registry. In order toestablish unambiguous authority for the use of a toll-free number, acontrolling organization for a toll-free number may be the responsibleorganization of record in the toll-free voice registry. Numberadministration may be the exclusive function residing only in theauthoritative toll-free voice registry.

In embodiments, the TSS may be flexible and extensible to support aplurality of toll-free services such as SMS or MMS messaging services,and content provisioning. The TSS may additionally provide toll-freenumbers for services such as videos, mobile device applications, games,or any other software, products or services that may be important to anorganization to anchor their identity and brand. To support thisenvironment, in embodiments, the TSS may reside on a stand-aloneplatform using hardware, software, and support systems independent ofthose used today in the toll-free voice registry. The TSS may be able toconnect to a toll-free voice registry to obtain number information, suchas availability and reservation status, as well as control responsibleorganization information, such as the responsible organization contactinformation, but may remain otherwise separate in its operation.

A responsible organization may maintain a toll-free voice registry thatprovides number administration, route provisioning, toll-free databaseservices to various service control points, or some other type oftoll-free service. The TSS, as described herein, may incorporate theservices from a toll-free voice registry to provide smart servicesenablement, route provisioning, and smart services registry to existingSMS/MMS routing databases as well as other smart services requiringtoll-free numbers, such as mobile device applications or games.

With reference to FIG. 12, in another embodiment, a mobile device 1200may utilize an unambiguous support identifier along with a toll-freedata, message, and voice service. In this embodiment, the mobile devicemay be assigned a unique Toll-Free ID (TFID) 1202 at the time ofmanufacturing. That is, the TFID may be agnostic of type of device andmay be hard flashed into the mobile device to identify a customer with atoll free provider that is providing the toll free communication. TheTFID may be associated with the carrier identifier such as IMEI, MEID ifGSM phone, CDMA, a service provider identifier such as a TSPID, asdescribed herein, or to another identifier associated with a mobiledevice. In another embodiment, the TFID may be associated with othersystems, including usage of a cellular telephone network (and associatedmobile communication devices, such as smart phones), a distributed,cloud network and an enterprise network associated with a carrier orother business organization (and any combination or sub-combination ofsuch networks).

A standard support app that is natively installed, such as a “setting”1208 app distributed as part of the device, or separately though an appstore, facilitates a consumer's ability to talk, message, view, browsesupport related features of merchandise, devices or other issues thatthe consumer may have. The standard support app may further interactwith a user profile and security administration that grants permissionsto different groups of users to access embodiments of the system tocreate, view, update and activate certain functions. The system canimplement a role-based access control mechanism.

When consumers buy a device, the device manufacturers and retailers may“auto register” the device to the support application at the Point ofSale (POS). The TFID may be embedded in the hardware of the device andcannot be changed to provide a definitive way to identify a device whenusing toll-free services.

With reference to FIG. 13, in another embodiment, the TFID may permit acustomer who is purchasing an appliance, a device, or other merchandiseto be presented with an opportunity to associate one or more mobiledevices to the merchandise purchased 1300. For example, this can beperformed at the POS or after the sale as a registration and/or warrantyprocess 1302. The process of registration is thereby automated tosimplify these somewhat otherwise bothersome processes for the customer.

In one example, a TFID Mobile App is operable to permit the mobiledevice to read QR codes, Barcodes, RFIDs, serial numbers, or othermerchandise identifiers and then communicate with the manufacturer viatoll free service provided by the manufacturer 1304. For example, a usermay need only point a camera of the mobile device toward the merchandiseto capture the merchandise identify and thereby complete a registration,warranty, support or other process.

On the backend, a TFID Mobile App registry 1308 may be updated with theadded mobile device TFID to merchandise association. Via a separatemechanism, merchandise manufactures 1310 can then update the registrywith the contact information associated with the TFID for registrationand user association. The TFID Mobile App registry may alternatively oradditionally be embodied in a distributed computing environment, such asa cloud based computing network. In another embodiment, such systems maybe hybrid networks, including usage of a cellular telephone network (andassociated mobile communication devices, such as smart phones), adistributed, cloud network and an enterprise network associated with acarrier or other business organization (and any combination orsub-combination of such networks).

Once the merchandise is associated with the particular mobile device—theTFID Mobile App may present or otherwise store the various informationabout the merchandise, e.g., product documentation, upgrades,manufacture contact information, etc. This permits the user to readilycommunicate with the manufacturer via the toll free service provided bythe manufacturer and accessed via the TFID. For example, once themerchandise is associated with the mobile device, a support callregistry may be made readily available from the manufacturer via a tollfree service. Support such as repair and troubleshooting for themerchandise may then be more readily provided as the initial validationof the merchandise to the particular user, e.g., warranty registrationand confirmation has already been automatically provided by theregistry. That is, the registry facilitates more direct access tosupport from the manufacturer via a toll free communication provided bythe manufacturer as supported by the support application on the device.

The following are illustrative clauses demonstrating non-limitingembodiments of the disclosure described herein:

A mobile device, comprising:

-   -   a unique toll-free ID (TFID) present in the mobile device, the        TFID operable to facilitate toll-free communication between the        mobile device and a manufacturer.

A method of communication via a toll-free service, comprising:

-   -   associating at least one mobile device to merchandise purchased        from a manufacturer via a unique toll-free ID (TFID) present in        the mobile device, the TFID operable to facilitate toll-free        communication between the mobile device and the manufacturer.

A toll-free voice registry may share reserved, assigned, and workingnumbers with the TSS. The TSS may then establish available numbers forservice enablement. As described herein, a service registrar mayidentify toll-free numbers to be provisioned to an organization and maycomplete a letter of authorization/agency and provide “owner of record”documentation. The TSS may then request approval for service enablementfrom a responsible organization. The responsible organization may reviewthe service enablement request. If approved, the TSS may change theservice status of the toll-free number from “available” to “assigned.”The service registrar may then assign a unique identifier to number suchas a Service Provider Identifier (SPID) or eSPID. The TSS may thenprovision the service and change the number status from “assigned” to“active.” The routing database associated with the TFMP may thenprovision the toll-free number with the unique identifier.

With reference to FIG. 14, a toll-free voice registry may sharereserved, assigned, and working numbers with the Toll-Free Texting andSmart Services Registry (TSS). The TSS may then establish availablenumbers for service enablement. As described herein, a service registrarmay identify toll-free numbers to be provisioned to an organization andmay complete a letter of authorization/agency and provide “owner ofrecord” documentation. The TSS may then request approval for serviceenablement from a responsible organization. The responsible organizationmay review the service enablement request. If approved, the TSS maychange the service status of the toll-free number from “available” to“assigned.” The service registrar may then assign a unique identifier tonumber such as a Service Provider Identifier (SPID) or eSPID. The TSSmay then provision the service and change the number status from“assigned” to “active.” The routing database associated with the TFMPmay then provision the toll-free number with the unique identifier.

Additionally, the TFMP may also provide a mobile or other applicationthat small business and single toll-free number users can use to reportabuse in combination with the TSS. The TFMP may include a subsystem,referred to as a “node,” that may be used to build a decision tree thatis downloaded to the SCPs. The decision tree may be used in variousmanners to facilitate operation of the service as otherwise described tofacilitate call efficiency. The TFMP may alternatively or additionallybe embodied in a distributed computing environment, such as a cloudbased computing network. In another embodiment, the TFMP may includehybrid networks, including usage of a cellular telephone network (andassociated mobile communication devices, such as smart phones), adistributed, cloud network and an enterprise network associated with acarrier or other business organization (and any combination orsub-combination of such networks).

Telecommunication service providers are required by industry guidelinesto have a unique company code assigned to them. This unique company codeidentifies carriers as they interconnect with each other and allows forrating, guiding, billing and routing functionality. Historically, whenservice providers provided voice only services, each service providerwas identified by a company code termed an Operating Company Number(OCN). With the evolution of the communications industry, serviceproviders started introducing additional voice services, for examplenumber portability. As these services were introduced, the need foruniquely identifying the carriers became of paramount importance.Registries and organizations were set up to facilitate the integrationand interactions required to fulfill these services. Such developmentsprompted service organizations' need for additional context-basedmetadata to support these interactions (for example number portability).One result was the adding of additional identifiers to each serviceprovider that required integration. These are sometimes referred to asthe SPID or Alternate Service Provider Identifier (Alt-SPID).

With the introduction of over-the-top (OTT) providers, for exampleSkype, and Internet Protocol-based vendors (IP Vendors) sellingtraditional communication services over a full Internet Protocol (IP)network, the activities between software and the traditionaltelecommunications industry become more interactive. IP allowed for anew breed of vendors to integrate with traditional communication serviceprovider networks for delivery and exchange of consumer data. Thiscreated a new set of challenges for the unique identification of serviceproviders since the IP Vendors were not traditional carriers and did notmeet industry guidelines for OCNs. Additional, sometimes proprietarymetadata were created to support these new service providers, forexample an eSPID, as described herein. The preponderance of differentidentifiers from eclectic industry organizations lead to lack of aconsistent, unique way to identify and interact with service providers,with no centralized industry provider, organization or registry having acomplete view of service provider community.

In an example embodiment of a service provider routing text messagesthough the network, as the text messages are processed the TSS mayobtain metadata associated with the messages that includes coding data.By reading these codes, the TSS may confirm that a given message isderived from a service provider such as Skype for delivery to an AT&Tsubscriber. Such metadata may be obtained, for example, in a headerfile. Fields in the header file may be associated with a SPID. This mayallow the TSS to determine that the text message is coming from Skype enroute to ATT. If it were the case that many texts were originating fromSkype at a particular time or day, the TSS may utilize this data toassist third parties in providing targeted advertising content. The TSSmay also utilize this data to identify the unnecessary usage ofintermediaries in processing communications such as text messages andassist users in avoiding the excess charges for intermediaries byrouting messages without using intermediaries. The TSS may utilize acontext-based unique identifier to distinguish specific servicesassociated with the TSS Registry. The TSPID 1402 may be enabled in TSSand applies to such multimedia services such as but not limited to SMS,MMS, video conferencing, and streaming data. Resp Org IDs may also beassociated with any toll free number enabled in TSS. The TSPID mayfurther facilitate the value chain of a multimedia service for toll-freenumbers in order for that service to be delivered.

The Toll-Free Service Provider ID “TSPID,” provides an aggregateidentifier for Service Registrars, who provide services such as, but notlimited to, SMS, MMS, video conferencing, and streaming content that maybe registered and distributed by the TSS Registry. That is, the TSPIDprovides a single unified identifier that may include other identifiers1404 over a broad distribution of data, to include, but not be limitedto, traditional voice services. The TSPID may also be utilized as anauthoritative identifier of the service provider of record for toll-freenumbers, and/or ultimately local 10 digit numbers. The TSPID may beenabled by a user profile and security administration that grantspermissions to different groups of users to access embodiments of thesystem to create, view, update and activate certain functions. Thesystem can implement a role-based access control mechanism.

Telecommunication service providers are required by industry guidelinesto have a unique company code assigned to them. This unique company codeidentifies carriers as they interconnect with each other and allows forrating, guiding, billing and routing functionality. Historically, whenservice providers provided voice only services, each service providerwas identified by a company code called as Operating Company Number or(OCN). With the evolution of the communications industry, serviceproviders started introducing additional voice services, for examplenumber portability. As these services were introduced, the need foruniquely identifying the carriers became of paramount importance.Registries and organizations were set up to facilitate the integrationand interactions required to fulfill these services. Such developmentsprompted service organizations' need for additional context-basedmetadata to support these interactions (for example number portability).One result was the adding of additional identifiers to each serviceprovider that required integration. These are sometimes referred to asthe SPID or Alternate Service Provider Identifier (Alt-SPID).

The SPID is the authoritative identifier for telephone number ownershipin the Number Portability Administration Center, which includes “ported”numbers associated with Local Number Portability as well as “pooled”numbers, which are associated with assigned pool blocks as administeredby the Pooling Administration. Over time, many companies may map variousidentifiers such as the SPIDs to a broader table for use with the TSPIDto still further aggregate such data. Further, traditional voiceservices may be mapped as well.

With the introduction of value added mobile services (for example SMS),exchanges and hubs set up by Inter Carrier Vendors (ICV) providecommunication between multiple mobile network operators. Route tablesare stored in industry proprietary databases that provided a call pathservice to determine, in real time, the destination service provider foran incoming mobile service. These ICVs further add additional metadatato identify carriers and facilitate integration. This process may haveadded complexity insofar as countries have their own local and regionalauthorities and naming conventions.

With the introduction of over-the-top (OTT) providers, for exampleSkype, and Internet Protocol-based vendors (IP Vendors) sellingtraditional communication services over a full Internet Protocol (IP)network, the activities between software and the traditionaltelecommunications industry become more interactive. IP allowed for anew breed of vendors to integrate with traditional communication serviceprovider networks for delivery and exchange of consumer data. Thiscreated a new set of challenges for the unique identification of serviceproviders since the IP Vendors were not traditional carriers and did notmeet industry guidelines for OCNs. ICVs created additional, sometimesproprietary metadata to support these new service providers, for examplean eSPID, as described herein. The preponderance of differentidentifiers from eclectic industry organizations lead to lack of aconsistent, unique way to identify and interact with service providers,with no centralized industry provider, organization or registry having acomplete view of service provider community.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the TSS may provide aninclusive view of industry identifiers, enabling a single system ofrecord for identifying service providers, whether traditionaltelecommunications provider, OTT provider, or some other type of serviceprovider. During the on-boarding process (e.g., toll-free numberreservation and provisioning), service registrars may be required toprovide their unique identifiers (UIds) with the various organizationsthey interact.

In embodiments, the TSS may establish a baseline of UIds by publicdomain information gathering. Data gathered through the public domainmay be further validated through crowd sourcing, where a global,potentially mechanical human process can be used to identify, validateand confirm UIds to create a baseline for the registry. In anotherembodiment, latent sematic indexing may be used to associate data andmetadata associated with communications to the actual owner, provider,or responsible party that is associated with a communication, such as atext message. This crowd-sourced translation table associated with theTSS may enable mapping of service providers to unique identifiers. Sucha mapping would enable the a registry that may be used by third partiesto locate the plurality of identifiers that may be associated with aservice provider or plurality of service providers.

In order to facilitate proper content delivery, service providers may berequired by the TSS to periodically update their UIds. A validation,verification and certification process may be used to ensure integrityand validity of data entering the TSS. This may provide the industrywith a single resource that may be used to identify and validate theidentity of service providers. In an example usage scenario, acommunications company that intends to optimize its network and managetraffic, may wish to identify where its end traffic (original source) islocated by looking at packet headers and identifying service providers.In another example, a consumer reports-based rating service may use theTSS to provide consumers with message or delivery metrics.Bulk-advertising (pam) management companies may use the TSS look atdetailed metadata and associate a name to a code. ICVs may use the TSSto streamline establishment and setup of their recipients withoutrequiring expensive and costly set up. Ad agencies may use data derivedfrom the TSS to customize ads to end users by understanding the sourceand destination (as opposed to area codes), and personalize contentbased on the service provider(s), for example if the content originatedon an IP network.

In an example embodiment of a service provider routing text messagesthough the network, as the text messages are processed the TSS mayobtain metadata associated with the messages that includes coding data.By reading these codes, the TSS may confirm that a given message isderived from a service provider such as Skype for delivery to an AT&Tsubscriber. Such metadata may be obtained, for example, in a headerfile. Fields in the header file may be associated with a SPID. This mayallow the TSS to determine that the text message is coming from Skype enroute to AT&T. If it were the case that many texts were originating fromSkype at a particular time or day, the TSS may utilize this data toassist third parties in providing targeted advertising content. The TSSmay also utilize this data to identify the unnecessary usage ofintermediaries in processing communications such as text messages andassist users in avoiding the excess charges for intermediaries byrouting messages without using intermediaries.

With reference to FIG. 15, in embodiments, the TSS (Texting and SmartServices) Registry 1500 may establish a baseline of UIds by publicdomain information gathering for messages 1508 sent from a client device1504. Data gathered through the public domain may be validated throughcrowd sourcing, where a global, potentially mechanical human process canbe used to identify, validate and confirm UIds to create a baseline forthe registry. Every Service Provider has a set of unique UIds by whichits customers are reached by various methods such as, but not limitedto, voice, short messaging service (SMS), multimedia messaging service(MMS), video conferencing, and streaming content. When any of theseService Providers signs up to be a TSS user 1502, it has a unique UId,called a TSPID, which is assigned. This TSPID provides the baseline forwhich many other UIds can be mapped. Many Data Providers, MessagingHubs, Aggregators, and others who are in the business of routing andproviding services such as voice, SMS, MMS, video conferencing,streaming content, and other multimedia services, to sign on to consumeTSS Data. Each of these entities that consume data will have a uniqueidentifier to which the TSPID will be mapped. Data Providers thatconsume TSS data will be required to provide to TSS a new toll-freespecific UId for each established TSPID. The end result is a mappingthat extends to any data provider that is consuming TSS data. Asdistribution widens, a fairly comprehensive routing table 1514 for eachService Provider is created.

Furthermore, each TFN that is enabled in the TSS Registry, has the RespOrg ID and Resp Org Entity associated with it, and thus is also mappedto the TSPID. The result is the most comprehensive routing tablespecific to toll-free numbers that will map toll-free numbers to theirvoice provider, messaging provider, as well as the routing informationacross a plurality of data providers. Once this comprehensive Toll-Freerouting table 1514 is established, it can be further extended to layerin other identifiers, such as, but not limited to local ten digitnumbers (also known as “long codes”), SPID, LRN, OCN, and LATA.

In another embodiment, latent semantic indexing may be used to associatedata and metadata associated with communications to the actual owner,provider, or responsible party that is associated with a communication,such as a text message. This crowd-sourced translation table associatedwith the TSS may enable mapping of service providers to uniqueidentifiers. Such a mapping would enable a registry that may be used bythird parties to locate the plurality of identifiers that may beassociated with a service provider or plurality of service providers. Inembodiments, toll-free number abuse information, as described herein,from a plurality of sources including, but not limited to, a telephoneservice provider, toll-free number operators and Resp Orgs may also beused for the purposes of creating translation tables, including but notlimited to crowd-sourced translation tables. The TSS routing table, oncesufficiently established, may be used for services such as value addedpredictive analytics, as described herein, that service providers canuse to gain valuable insights about their customers. Service Providersand other consumers of the data in the routing table would access theinformation using either an application programming interface (API) forautomated integration into their own analytics engines, or a web-basedGUI for simpler one-time lookups. Below are some examples of probableuse-cases for the routing table.

In order to facilitate proper content delivery, service providers may berequired by the TSS to periodically update their UIds. A validation,verification and certification process may be used to ensure integrityand validity of data entering the TSS. This may provide the industrywith a single resource that may be used to identify and validate theidentity of service providers. In an example usage scenario, acommunications company that intends to optimize its network and managetraffic, may wish to identify where its end traffic (original source) islocated by looking at packet headers and identifying service providers.

In another embodiment, a consumer reports-based rating service may usethe TSS to provide consumers with message or delivery metrics.Bulk-advertising (spam) management companies may use the TSS to look atdetailed metadata and associate a name to a code to streamlineestablishment and setup of their recipients without requiring expensiveand costly set up. Ad agencies may use data derived from the TSS tocustomize ads to end users by understanding the source and destination(as opposed to area codes), and personalize content based on the serviceprovider(s), for example if the content originated on an IP network.

In another embodiment of a service provider routing text messages thoughthe network, as the text messages 1508 are processed, the TSS may obtainmetadata associated with the messages that includes coding data. Byreading these codes, the TSS may confirm that a given message is derivedfrom a service provider such as Skype for delivery to an AT&Tsubscriber. Such metadata may be obtained, for example, in a headerfile. Fields in the header file may be associated with a SPID. This mayallow the TSS to determine that the text message is coming from Skype enroute to AT&T. If it were the case that many texts were originating fromSkype at a particular time or day, the TSS may utilize this data toassist third parties in providing targeted advertising content. The TSSmay also utilize this data to identify the unnecessary usage ofintermediaries in processing communications such as text messages andassist users in avoiding the excess charges for intermediaries byrouting messages without using intermediaries.

In embodiments, the TFMP may provide a Toll-Free Texting and SmartServices Registry (TSS) to support toll-free telephone numbers andrelated services, such as SMS, MMS and streaming media. The TSS maycomprise several components such as, but not limited to, numberadministration, call control and routing, as well as number statusassessment. The number administration function may provide numberassignment for toll-free subscribers as well as provide services tomanage the toll-free numbering plan. This component may provide fortoll-free number portability as well as managing the mapping oftoll-free numbers to geographic numbers. The number administrationfunction may also open new number plan administration codes. The numberadministration function may forecast the exhaustion of codes and demandfor codes for use by organizations such as the FCC. The call control androuting function may be responsible for providing intelligent routingfor calls made to toll-free numbers.

Toll-free subscribers may have the ability to configure call routing toinclude multiple carriers, time of day rules, and rules based on thecaller's proximity, among others. These rules may be downloaded toreal-time network routing databases or Service Control Points (SCPs).The number status assessment function may determine the availability ofcertain numbers. Numbers may be reserved and assigned according toactivation date and then are deployed. The number status function mayassess whether numbers are spare, reserved, assigned, or currentlydeployed. Providers of various smart services, such as voice, media, ortexting services, may be able to access the TSS that can be text enabledfrom a list of reserved, assigned, and working numbers. After numbersare identified, an automated online letter of agency may be executed.The letter of agency may independently demonstrate authorization to aresponsible organization that maintains the registration for individualtoll-free numbers in a distributed database. The distributed databasemay be associated with a distributed computing network, as describedherein. Upon execution of the letter of agency, the information may thenbe provisioned to industry routing databases for delivering variousservices, such as SMS (text) messaging, MMS messaging, and contentstreaming, including but not limited to video content.

Letter of agency, as used herein, may include but is not limited tocommunication used by a toll-free end subscriber, such as during theprovisioning phase of a toll-free number engagement, to enable that endsubscriber to switch providers for a given telephone, messaging service,and the like. In an example, an end subscriber may wish to change itslong distance provider so that a local company need not be used. Thelong distance provider to whom the end subscriber wishes to do businesswould typically walk the end subscriber through an authorization processto enable the end subscriber to switch long distance carriers from thelocal company to the new company. This authorization may manifest in thecarrier's system as a letter of agency that documents the neededapprovals from the end subscriber. In an embodiment, the TSS may enablea letter of agency process for a provider to authorize texting and otherservices on a toll-free number or plurality of toll-free numbers thatare used by an end subscriber. The letter of agency may beelectronically stored and presented to the responsible organization orowner of record for a given number or service. The letter of agency mayfurther define a time frame during which certain actions, such as theturning on of texting services for a toll-free number, are permitted.Such letters of agency, as defined herein, may be further associatedwith stored profiles of an owner of record and/or end subscriber. Aletter of agency may allow a toll-free number end-user, or toll-freenumber subscriber, to authorize service enablement for services notcovered by their existing responsible organization. In this way,consumers can have multiple services enabled on a single telephonenumber, across multiple service providers. In an example, a letter ofagency may authorize a responsible organization or other entity to takea plurality of actions so that additional communication with, forexample, an end subscriber is unnecessary and actions may be taken morequickly and efficiently. This may enable service registrars, and others,to activate new services, such as toll-free texting services orbandwidth increases on a shorter timeline, which may have commercialbenefits as speed activation of needed telecommunications services.

In an embodiment, the TSS may facilitate the enablement of a letter ofagency process used to enable toll-free texting capability and capturebasic data such as customer name, responsible organization, serviceregistrar, toll free number, service enablement date, and letter ofauthorization/agency, status of services, or some other type of dataassociated with toll-free telephone numbers and services. The TSS mayfacilitate the letter of agency process by programmatically sending anotification to the responsible organization of record to memorializethe transaction. A timer may be set that will give the responsibleorganization a limited period of time to dispute the transaction. If noaction is taken, the transaction may proceed and texting serviceenablement, or some other service type, may be fulfilled in the TSSRegistry. Continuing the example, this letter of agency process may beprovided for each toll-free number that is provisioned in the TSSRegistry, or only a subset of numbers depending on the wishes of the endusers. In order to streamline the letter of agency process, a “blanket”letter of agency may be used whereby the customer of record mayauthorize a specific service registrar to provision, update, anddeactivate records in the TSS as needed. In such cases, a notificationmay be sent to the responsible organization to memorialize eachtransaction. In order to further streamline the letter of agencyprocess, responsible organization's may choose to put a “blanket”authorization on specific service registrar's which will allow thetransaction to take place in real time.

In embodiments, the TSS Registry, as described herein may be anauthoritative database of all, or some subset of, text-enabled toll-freenumbers in North America. It may also contain the top-level routinginformation, in the form of a toll-free service provider identifier(TSPID), used by the texting ecosystem to send messages to the propertoll-free subscriber. Since a letter of agency is required for eachtoll-free number that is enabled in the TSS, the TSPID may become acentralized and authoritative source identifier and may be used in theprovisioning of additional services associated with toll-free numberssuch as, but not limited to MMS, video conferencing, and streaming data.Furthermore, since part of the enablement process includes ResponsibleOrganization authorization and/or notification, coupled with the directconnection to a voice telecommunications platform associated with theTFMP, the TSPID may also serve to validate the authority of a callrouting table.

The following are illustrative clauses demonstrating non-limitingembodiments of the disclosure described herein:

A method of identifying and storing an identifier associated with atoll-free-communication entity, comprising:

-   -   locating an identifier within the header portion of an SMS text        message routed over a toll-free telecommunications line, the        identifier located based at least in part through latent        semantic indexing;    -   comparing the located identifier with metadata stored on a        server, the metadata associated with a plurality of entities;    -   selecting an entity from among the plurality of entities based        at least in part on the comparison; and    -   storing a code associated with the entity within a translation        table associated with a toll-free telecommunications management        platform.

A method of creating and storing an identifier associated with atoll-free-communication entity, comprising:

-   -   locating data within the header portion of an SMS text message        routed over a toll-free telecommunications line, the data        located based at least in part through latent semantic indexing;    -   creating an entity identifier based at least on the data;    -   storing a code associated with the entity identifier and an        entity within a translation table associated with a toll-free        telecommunications management platform; and    -   associating the entity and entity identifier with a call routing        table.

A method of identifying and storing an identifier associated with atoll-free-communication entity, comprising:

-   -   identifying a toll-free call route trend among a plurality of        toll-free calls taking place within a toll-free        telecommunications network; wherein the call route trend is        identified at least in part by call routings among toll-free        numbers sharing an attribute;    -   creating a call route template based at least in part on the        trend;    -   identifying an entity using at least one toll-free number with        the shared attribute;    -   prepopulating a call route tree for the entity based on the call        route template.

With reference to FIGS. 16-20, a system according to variousembodiments, and which may be referred to in some instances herein as anintelligent platform, platform, or an architecture, is operable tosupport the ever evolving toll-free industry through the use of moderntechnologies which may include enhanced functionality and deliverimproved cost efficiencies and quality of service.

The architecture depicted in FIGS. 16-20 may include aspects such as:

-   -   Number searches return suggestions    -   Scheduled number search    -   One-click number search to activate    -   Number search based on history    -   Smart number search    -   Bulk search    -   Spare number availability notification    -   Enhanced number configurability    -   Enhanced route management    -   Self-service administration    -   Additional user roles    -   Customer record builder    -   Customer record template transfer    -   Dashboard    -   Customer access    -   Open API    -   Bulk Processing    -   Improved Search    -   Workflow    -   Customer records/Template    -   System Performance    -   Reporting and Analytics

The architecture depicted in FIGS. 16-20 may include the components inthe following table:

Component Decision Rationale Application Apply Service-oriented (SOA)and SOA and EDA create loose Platform event-driven (EDA) design couplingand high cohesion, throughout the application. The core which enableflexibility and system should be considered a extensibility to businesschange platform for existing application in alignment with the solutionservices as well as future products principles. and services, some ofwhich may be provided by the TFMP while others would be provided byeither third parties or affiliated entities, interfacing with the systemvia public APIs. Application Follow web scale IT design to Web-Scaledesign concepts Platform enable cloud-based scale and high considerglobal-class compute availability using stateless models, capacity giventhe massive open source tools, Agile/DevOps expansion of web- and cloud-approaches, and Web Oriented enabled capabilities. Web-ScaleArchitecture (Web APIs) concepts. is the modern equivalent to highquality of service architectures on low cost/commodity infrastructure.Application Utilize web API architecture to Traditional N-Tierarchitectures Platform simplify traditional N-Tier models requiresignificant “platform by connecting any plumbing,” and may be quicklydevice/channel/interface via a single being replaced by simpler, moreAPI that encapsulates a back-end modern Web API architecturesdata/process service. that use generic interfaces to back-enddata/processing services. This simpler architecture aligns well with thesolution principles. Application Distributed queue with guaranteedTraditional, storage-based queues Platform (storage-based) messaging toensure should be sufficient to handle FIFO request management. Developtransaction volumes. If the queue a proof of concept for in-memorybecomes a bottleneck and the queue if requirements necessitate databasearchitecture cannot faster performance. maintain integrity, an in-memoryqueue may be necessary. Application Prefer Java as the programming Overthe last few years, Java has Platform platform/language of choice forcore consistently been ranked as one application components. Leverage ofthe most popular alternative languages programming languages with anopportunistically to accelerate installed base that rivals anydevelopment for lightweight Web other programming language. Acomponents, native sockets, or wide availability of resources analytics,among others. and products exist to complement the language. A minimalrisk exists with Java based on the fact that it is controlled by Oracleand does not share the same degree of openness as many other languages.Nonetheless, Java is a generic rather than a purpose- specific language,so the architecture should expect a plurality of alternatives to solvediscrete technical or business problems. User Interface Design forweb-based, thin client Responsive/cross-channel web user interface withHTML5, design and cross-platform/device JavaScript and CSS.compatibility requires modern user interface technologies to deliverconsistency across a variety of browsers, screen-sizes and platforms.JavaScript libraries (formerly referred to as AJAX/RIA) havesignificantly matured, when combined with HTML5 and CSS, can now deliverrich, dynamic and usable experiences that integrate easily with webAPIs. These tools do, however, require significant hand-coding. BusinessImplement a business rule engine Current business processes may Processand (BRE), but not a BPMS, to simplify not require use of a businessRules call-tree routing for customer process management suite recordsand enable configuration of (BPMS) because 1) processes valid values andranges throughout may be deterministic with the application. definedbeginnings and ends, 2) processes do not change frequently, and 3)processes do not require business user change. Basicworkflow/orchestration logic and rule evaluation tools meet minimumsolution requirements. These basic capabilities may be packaged in manyleading products including service buses and open source tools.Integration Use a lightweight service bus to An integration layercentralizes intermediate Web APIs between and simplifies Web APIchannels/devices/interfaces. The mediation and security, as well servicebus can be one of two as decouples the architecture to patterns/usages:increase flexibility and 1. Open Source Enterprise extensibility. ESBsmay be Service Bus (ESB) that traditional integration mainstays providesadvanced service that provide a suite of integration mediation,intelligent routing, functionality. Popular open BPEL/orchestration,rule source tools include Talend, evaluation, security and robustMulesoft, Red Hat Fuse, and message transformation WSO2. Lighter-weightAPI 2. API Management Appliances Management Appliances that providebasic service (formerly referred to as SOA mediation, routing,Governance tools) may be orchestration and increasingly popular fortransformation plus hardware simplified and accelerated acceleration forsecurity/SSL service mediation. Popular and message processingappliances may be CA/Layer 7, DataPower, and Intel SOA Express.Integration Both SOAP and REST, and others Both REST and SOAP WS-I canbe used. SOAP WS-I is may be mainstream Web Service preferred for higherquality of integration technologies. These service requirements such astechnologies provide for security and reliable messaging. relativelyeasy and efficient REST is preferred for ubiquity and integrationfollowing industry- interoperability. accepted standards. IntegrationUse data integration to ensure CDC and ETL may be both consistencyacross data stores and mainstream options for moving synchronization forreplication. Data data. CDC should be used for integration tools maydeliver two near real-time data integration patterns/usages: whereas ETLshould be used to 1. Change data capture (CDC) move bulk changes on aperiodic for moving data from basis. Numerous open source transactionprocessing systems data integration tools may be (OLTP) into theoperational available, including those data store (ODS) in near/real-packaged with the chosen time database. 2. Extract, transform, load(ETL) for moving data from ODS to other data stores for replication andanalysis in batch/scheduled mode Business Expand use of the SAP There isan existing investment, Intelligence BusinessObjects suite investment tocomfort, and experience with address the three business BusinesObjectsfor end-user intelligence use cases: Dashboards, reporting.BusinessObjects is a Reporting, and Analytics. This leading product andsuite for includes using BusinessObjects as a dashboards, reporting andreplacement for Concurrent analytics. The Knosys platform isTechnologies Knosys, which is expensive, adds complexity to currentlyused for management the environment, and requires reporting. Evaluateuse of data to be sent off-site without BusinessObjects On-Demand/SaaSclear repossession rights. to reduce the infrastructure footprint.Business Analytics and Reporting can run A separate reporting databaseis Intelligence against the operational data store essential to removethose (ODS) for both management and workloads from the transactionend-user reports (dashboards, processing database (when not cannedreports, parameterized using an in-memory database, reports, ad hocreports). The ODS which is the current direction). can provide insightinto “what The ODS can maintain an happened?” and “what is integrated,near real-time set of happening?” all operational data including number,customer, and billing information. Business Analytics and Reporting canrun A separate analytics database is Intelligence against a datawarehouse or “big essential to remove those data” data store. Theanalytics data workloads from the ODS. This store can be created forindustry analytics data store may also intelligence workloads, which mayinclude a different schema, include mining, forecasting, and differentdata types, and different trending to provide insight into “whysemantics. ETL, and others can is this happening?” and “what is be usedto move data from the likely to happen next?” ODS to the analytics datastore unless near/real-time information is necessary for industryanalytics. Data There is no need for master or There may be current orfuture Management metadata management, search requirements thatnecessitate engines or Web/content/document active data qualitymanagement, management. metadata management, or unstructured contentsearch. Web and content management may be out of scope. Data Thedatabase architecture can enable Traditional, shared-everything,Management partitioning in a shared nothing monolithic databasearchitectures model. This can ensure that data may be being replaced byaccess and indexing can be scaled in modern, shared-nothing, highly awidely accepted, fault-tolerant scalable architectures. These manner.concepts align with Web-Scale deployments and disclosed embodimentssolution principles. Data Data integrity and availability may ACID isthe traditional, high Management be characterized by two data modelintegrity database model that patterns/usage: ACID and BASE. providesample scale and Preference is for ACID, but others capacity. This is alow risk may be prototyped such as BASE solution for well-known numberusing strict success criteria and customer administration (monitoring,management, functionalities. BASE offers consistency, responsiveness) tonearly infinite performance and determine if additional benefits scalebenefits, but requires a exceed the risks of complexity, significantshift in developer and difficulty, and ability to maintain userexperience that introduces user expectations. risk into the deployment.This 1. ACID: Traditional session- degree of change and risk baseddatabase locking currently outweigh the benefits strategies to guaranteeof scale and capacity. Further transaction integrity (e.g.,investigation is needed to Oracle, DB2, SQL Server, understand the truemySQL) benefits/tradeoffs, and 2. BASE: Trending stateless implicationsto other database models that favor architectural decisions. dataavailability and eventual consistency over data integrity (e.g., mySQLCluster, Cassandra, MongoDB) Data If the performance requirements Datasharding is an advanced Management necessitate additional scale, thealternative technique that not BASE pattern design should be onlypartitions data but also favored over data sharding. moves thosepartitions into separate databases. This requires intelligence in theapplication to know in which database certain sets of data reside. Fordisclosed embodiments, the benefit of sharding scale and performance donot justify the costs of additional application complexity. MonitoringMonitoring may cover three levels: Application monitoring is a 1)application performance critical piece of application monitoring(end-user experience, management and is essential to applicationruntime, transaction reduce maintenance costs. profiling, componentdeep-dives), 2) Consistent application server monitoring and 3) networkinstrumentation implementation monitoring. Unified monitoring practicesare followed to ensure tools may be utilized to simplify the accurateend-to-end user and landscape and provide a single transaction levelmonitoring. console for application and infrastructure health. SecurityMultiple products may be used to Application security is a secure theruntime environment. fundamental concern for all Web ApplicationFirewalls provide application development, and real-time eventmonitoring and should be ingrained into every protect against known SQLinjection aspect of the application code. and phishing vulnerabilities.Web Application Firewalls may Dynamic security testing tools may besimple hardware appliances continually verify protection against thatcan also accelerate and load known signatures and patterns. Data balancerequests. Many other masking tools should be used to security tools maybe open obfuscate production data for source or easily acquired.test/development purposes. Security Identity and Web access Securitycannot be compromised, management can be provided via on- but there maybe more usable premises Web Access Management solutions available thatcan tools. These tools provide integrated sustain and even enhancesystem identity management, self-service security posture. passwordmanagement, authentication management and authorization integration.Disclosed embodiments may still require two- factor authentication. Apassword is likely to be the first factor. A token (soft orcertificate-based) or a one- time password (OTP) may be likely to be thesecond factor. A VPN should be used to create a secure tunnel andmitigate Man-In-The- Middle attacks.

With reference to FIG. 21, in embodiments, the TFMP may include asubsystem that enables distributed call collectors to collect data fromvarious sources including service control points (SCPs), toll-freeservice providers, interexchange carriers, and others. Data may bereal-time grouped, aggregated and reduced based on toll-free numbers andrelevant parameters, including but not limited to origination location,originating area of service, originating NPA, ANI, or some othercriterion. Call counts may be calculated for high priority numbers. Datamay be enriched with call duration information when it is available.This process may assist in reducing the overall data set size andspeeding processing. A local NoSQL data store may be used to aggregatelocal trends and pre-process raw data.

In embodiments, once pre-processing completes, data may be shared inreal time, or near real time, to a centralized analytics data store 2102that is associated with the TFMP for more real time mapping andreduction. The analytics NoSQL datamart may combine data feeds fromvarious service providers from the network and further reduceinformation to call counts, call completion rates and call duration forhigh priority numbers. This subsystem of the TFMP may gather historicalmacroeconomic data from market sources 2104 like Bloomberg™ and Reuters™and create a reference data store that groups and summarizes economictrends month over month. This subsystem may serve as a reference datasource for the analysis, inference and indexing system.

In embodiments, this subsystem may collect historical call completionand call count data from high priority numbers and apply mapping anddata reduction techniques to create historical baselines for calls.Calls may be sourced from market data sources, data purchases, databartering from call sources, or through some other type of data source.Call sampling and aggregation may be iteratively performed until astatistically significant dataset is created (e.g., over a tuningperiod). Multi-factor models may be created for correlating toll-freecall activity with selected macroeconomic trends, backed by highpriority numbers tied to businesses. For example, calls to toll-freenumbers for employment commissions in the 50 states may be tied to aforward-looking indicator for unemployment and consumer sentiment.

In another example, historical changes in macroeconomic data may beplotted with changes in call metrics like call volume, call duration, orsome other data related to toll-free data. This may provide acorrelation between telemetry and economic indicators. Financialmodeling techniques may be applied, and additional factors may beanalyzed, including but not limited to consumer sentiment, includingsentiment that is sourced by social media comments and online behaviorsrelated to relevant topics (e.g., questions regarding unemploymentbenefits or questions regarding food stamps). Interrelationships betweenindicators may also be analyzed. Credit card spending data may be anadditional factor analyzed. These underlying factors may drivestochastic probabilities to determine a prediction model that may beutilized by the TFMP. The TFMP system may include a subsystem, referredto as a “node,” that may be used to build a decision tree that isdownloaded to the SCPs to facilitate the stochastic probabilities todetermine a prediction model. The decision tree may be used in variousmanners as otherwise described to facilitate call efficiency. The outputof the model may be a prediction trend 2108 that can forecast theprobability of a relative positivity or negativity of the upcomingindicator. Data from the analytics data store and the historical trendsdata store may be analyzed through a multi-factor model for deriving amacro economic trend indicator and a relative level of confidence withthe trend.

In embodiments, a client device 2110 such as an online and/or a mobileapplication may allow users to filter, search and sort trend data,increase or reduce granularity, include or exclude factors and zone inor drill down based on dimensions. For example, a user may choose toinclude or exclude a state from the model to derive a trend predictionand a prediction confidence indicator. Alternatively or in addition, acustomizable user interface, or “dashboard,” may be utilized to provideaccess for third party data services, sponsored data and informationderived from toll-free telecommunications networks, including but notlimited to telecommunications carriers, service control points, callcenters, or other parties affiliated with a toll-free telecommunicationnetwork. As elsewhere described, origination data may be combined withsocial media and other public domain third party data, and nearreal-time, apply a valuation model to display a trends and prices on aninteractive map via the TFMP. Further, the user profile and securityadministration grants permissions to different groups of users to accessembodiments of the system to create, view, update and activate certainfunctions. The system can implement a role-based access controlmechanism.

In embodiments, this analytic subsystem of the TFMP may provide aflexible mapping interface for a user 2112 to enter their own data aspart of an analysis. Once configured, additional data sources may beadded in real time, or near real time, through an API or a web interfaceto further refine the model based on customer specific data sets to makeintelligent business decisions. The system may alternatively oradditionally be embodied in a distributed computing environment, such asa cloud based computing network. In another embodiment, such systems maybe hybrid networks, including usage of a cellular telephone network (andassociated mobile communication devices, such as smart phones), adistributed, cloud network and an enterprise network associated with acarrier or other business organization (and any combination orsub-combination of such networks).

The system may also provide a marketplace for data trading wheresubscribers can choose and buy data sources that are of interest to themto include in their analysis to further refine their predictive model.The system may facilitate the sale of data sources and assist inensuring that the data uploaded and made available on the data market isscrubbed of personally identifiable or other sensitive data. Forfacilitating the data sale, the system may charge a percentage of thesale proceeds in addition to an annual or monthly subscription fees. Forconsumers interested in a monthly subscription, overall sentiment datamay be made available through a number trend report. Alerts may bepresented to users, such as to a client device. The user may also accessthe reporting capabilities of the TFMP through a client device, such asa personal computer, mobile phone, tablet computer, or some othercomputing facility, and receive data, including multimedia to the user'sclient device. Functionalities of the TFMP include, but are not limitedto, Number Administration (NA) and Customer Record (CR) administration.

In embodiments, the TFMP may provide macroeconomic data trend over anetwork to a remote client device, by providing a user interfacedashboard to a user for installation on the remote client device;receiving third party social media data; modeling at least one of callduration or call count data with the third party social media data toderive a macroeconomic trend; receiving a request from the remote clientdevice to present the macroeconomic data trend; generating an alert fromthe macroeconomic data trend that contains a stock name, stock price anda universal resource locator (URL), which specifies the location of thedata source; and transmitting the alert over a communication channel tothe remote client device associated with the user based upon adestination address and transmission schedule that is associated withthe remote client device, wherein the alert activates the user interfacedashboard to cause the alert to display on the remote client device andto enable connection with the user interface dashboard when the remoteclient device is activated.

The following are illustrative clauses demonstrating non-limitingembodiments of the disclosure described herein:

A method comprising:

-   -   receiving data relating to toll-free number call activity from a        toll-free telecommunications system, wherein the data includes        at least one of call duration or call count data;    -   receiving third party data relating to macroeconomic activity;    -   modeling at least one of call duration or call count data with        the third party data to derive a macroeconomic trend;    -   receiving a request from a client device to present the        macroeconomic trend; and    -   presenting a representation of the macroeconomic trend to a user        interface on the client device.

A method comprising:

-   -   receiving data relating to toll-free number call activity from a        toll-free telecommunications system, wherein the data includes        at least one of call duration or call count data;    -   receiving metadata about the toll-free numbers that are the        subject of the call activity, wherein the metadata includes data        pertaining to at least one of business type or location;    -   modeling at least one of call duration or call count data with        the metadata to derive a macroeconomic trend;    -   receiving a request from a client device to present the        macroeconomic trend; and    -   presenting a representation of the macroeconomic trend to a user        interface on the client device.

A method of distributing a macroeconomic data trend over a network to aremote client device, the method comprising:

-   -   providing a user interface dashboard to a user for installation        on the remote client device;    -   receiving third party social media data;    -   modeling at least one of call duration or call count data with        the third party social media data to derive a macroeconomic        trend;    -   receiving a request from the remote client device to present the        macroeconomic data trend;    -   generating an alert from the macroeconomic data trend that        contains a stock name, stock price and a universal resource        locator (URL), which specifies the location of the data source;        and    -   transmitting the alert over a communication channel to the        remote client device associated with the user based upon a        destination address and transmission schedule that is associated        with the remote client device, wherein the alert activates the        user interface dashboard to cause the alert to display on the        remote client device and to enable connection with the user        interface dashboard when the remote client device is activated.

With reference to FIG. 22, in another embodiment, a toll-free managementplatform (TFMP) may refine a recommendation for a toll-free numbersearch via a recommendation engine that utilizes a searcher's profile toimprove the search. The toll-free management platform (TFMP) may utilizeother assets of a toll-free system generally, such as carrier data,location information regarding call origination, payment data and soforth. The TFMP system may include a subsystem, referred to as a “node,”that may be used to build a decision tree that is downloaded to theSCPs. The decision tree may be used in various manners as otherwisedescribed to facilitate call efficiency. In one example, the toll-freenumber search may be based upon a customer's historical data such asprior search criteria and existing toll-free numbers, and therebyprovide the customer suggestions or notification of toll-free numbersthat are available for use. This toll-free number search may be basedupon previous searches by either that customer and alternatively or inaddition, upon other customer searches.

The toll-free number predictive search is operable to utilize multiplesources of data to extrapolate possible toll-free numbers and thoseincluded in a Resp Org and/or user's search history to include, but notbe limited to, a current Resp Org inventory, an overall search history,lists of upcoming available numbers, or some other type of data.Predictive analytics is an area of data mining that deals withextracting information from data and using it to predict trends andbehavior patterns. The toll-free number predictive search is operablefor the user profile and security administration grants permissions todifferent groups of users to access embodiments of the system to create,view, update and activate certain functions. The system can implement arole-based access control mechanism.

Predictive analytics utilized for the predictive search may encompass avariety of statistical techniques from predictive modeling, machinelearning, and data mining that analyze current and historical facts tomake predictions about future, or otherwise unknown, events. Predictiveanalytics can be applied to any type of unknown whether it be in thepast, present or future. Predictive analytic services may also beprovided that allow a user, through the customizable user interface, ordashboard, to access third party data services, sponsored data andinformation derived from toll-free telecommunications networks,including but not limited to telecommunications carriers, servicecontrol points, call centers, or other parties affiliated with atoll-free telecommunication network. As elsewhere described, originationdata may be combined with social media and other public domain thirdparty data, and near real-time, apply a valuation model to display atrends and prices on an interactive map via the TFMP.

The toll-free number predictive search may check on the availability ofa suggested toll-free number before making a particular suggestion andmay otherwise automatically reserve that toll-free number, based uponthe customer selecting an “automatically reserve” option. That is, thetoll-free number may be automatically reserved if it meets particularsearch criteria to essentially automate the reservation thereof.Further, the automatic reservation may be a fee-based function in whichparticular bidders are able to prioritize the choice of toll freenumbers via particular fee based arrangements.

In embodiments, initially, a user may be provided the option to opt into the toll-free number predictive search feature as well as the optionto automatically reserve toll-free numbers determined to be availablebased upon the predictive search. That is, rather than wait for arequest, a customer-desired number is predicted, offered, andpotentially reserved. The user may also access the reportingcapabilities of the TFMP through a client device, such as a personalcomputer, mobile phone, tablet computer, or some other computingfacility, and receive data, including multimedia to the user's clientdevice. Functionalities of the TFMP include, but are not limited to,Number Administration (NA) and Customer Record (CR) administration. Itshould be appreciated that other options may be alternatively oradditionally provided.

In one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of a method 2200 for operationof a toll-free number predictive search is initiated via accessing aResp Org's search history (step 2202; FIGS. 23, 24, 25, and 26).Numerous criteria may be used when searching for toll-free numbersincluding the use of wildcards, words translated to numbers, and thelike. The search may be performed at both a Resp Org level and brokendown by a user as well. This history may be one of the factors used inproviding suggestions. Typically, an inventory of toll-free numbersassociated with a particular Resp Org as well as an inventory ofavailable toll-free numbers is accessible. Next, the toll-free numberpredictive search feature may utilize an algorithm that would, forexample using the data noted above, produce a list of customer desiredtoll-free numbers for the customer (step 2204). For example, thealgorithm may use any and/or all of the following information to make asearch recommendation:

-   -   Previous search number history (what numbers has a user/Resp Org        searched for recently and how many times has the search been        performed).    -   Current inventory of toll-free numbers managed by this        particular Resp Org. For example, if 888-234-CARS is managed        perhaps 800-234-CARS may be predicted as being desired.    -   Numbers that are to be spared (made available). Examine numbers        that are going to become available and determine if they meet        any patterns in which a user has expressed interest.    -   Search histories from this or other Resp Orgs as it relates to a        number this Resp Org has searched for.

The predictive search results may facilitate a standing willingness fora customer to pay for a particular toll-free number and thusautomatically reserve the predicted toll-free number (step 2206). Forexample, once a toll-free number is identified, various offers may bemade available via an auction, payment to be first in line, subscriptionofferings, and others. Finally, a plurality of options may be providedwhen the customer receives the predictive search results (step 2208),such as, but not limited to:

-   -   At every logon;    -   Emailed at a specific time of the day. In one example,        coordinated around the TFN Spare activity.

The following are illustrative clauses demonstrating non-limitingembodiments of the disclosure described herein:

A method of searching for a toll-free number, comprising:

-   -   identifying a previous search number history for a user; and    -   offering a toll free number associated with the previous search        number history to the user.

A method of searching for a toll-free number, comprising:

-   -   predicting a customer-desired toll free number for a user;    -   reserving a toll free number in response to the predicting; and    -   offering the reserved toll free number to the user.

A method of searching for a toll-free number, comprising:

-   -   identifying a previous search number history for a user;    -   predicting a customer-desired toll free number for a user from        the previous search number history; and    -   offering the predicted toll free number to the user.

One disclosed embodiment of the system can support future and theever-evolving toll-free industry through the use of modern technologies,enhanced functionality, and improved cost efficiencies and quality ofservice. The system can provide additional and enhanced systemcapabilities that meet or exceed the performance of the existing legacysystem on all parameters such as response time, capacity, scalabilityand cost. The system can improve core services, lower operationalexpenses, and enable innovations for customers.

More specifically, embodiments of the system can facilitate:

-   -   Modernization of core technologies    -   Relevance with transition to IP.    -   Use cloud, mobile, and leading-edge technologies to enable new        business opportunities and facilitate customer innovation.    -   Meet/Exceed current service levels.    -   Optimize processes and data.    -   Make it easier for customers to do business thereby building        stronger relationships.    -   Increase customer satisfaction and perceived value    -   Enable business process automation to optimize cycle time    -   Make data more valuable and accessible for both internal and        external use.    -   Optimize functionality and system access methods to the minimum        required. Increase ability to change.    -   Be more flexible to quickly add/enhance products and services.    -   More easily adapt to and support business/industry change over        time.    -   Simplify in everything to optimize and reduce costs.    -   Broaden pool of available talent by leveraging current        technologies and leading concepts.

Embodiments of the disclosed system may include the integration of oneor more of the following capabilities:

-   -   Number searches return suggestions.    -   Scheduled number search.    -   One-click number search to activation.    -   Number search based on history.    -   Smart number search.    -   Bulk search.    -   Spare number availability notification.    -   Enhanced number configurability.    -   Enhanced route management.    -   Self-service administration.    -   Additional user roles.    -   Customer record builder.    -   Customer record template transfer.    -   Dashboard.    -   Customer access.

Additionally, the capabilities listed herein may include the followingfeatures in its integration such as Minimal Feature Sets (“MFS”), NewFeature Sets (“NFS”) and Non-Functional Requirements. Additionally, thecapabilities listed in the MFS, NFS, and Non-Functional Requirements mayinclude the following:

-   -   Ease of Use.    -   Open API.    -   Bulk Processing.    -   Improved Search.    -   Workflow.    -   Customer records/Template.    -   System Performance.    -   Reporting and Analytics.

With reference to FIG. 27, a high performance Agile and DevOpsapplication delivery organization 2700 permits each vendor to examinethe organization and sample toolset to see if it fits within their ideaof a delivery organization. The system can be built on a Web-Scaleinfrastructure capable of delivering continuous availability andcontinuous delivery. The Web-Scale infrastructure can enable developersand administrators to easily provision and deploy environmentson-demand. The infrastructure and application services can scale up anddown based on external factors (i.e., current load, performancerequirements). Integrated teams, process and tools that provideincreased agility, transparency and ease of governance, and effectiveallocation of resources.

A subscriber to basic telephone service is assigned a telephone numberthat identifies the service and is billed for calls originated from thetelephone line associated with the service. In contrast, with toll-freeservice the subscriber is assigned a toll-free telephone number and isbilled for all calls terminated to that number. There is no charge tothe originator of the toll-free call.

Toll-free number portability made it possible for any company to provideservice for any available toll-free number. FCC Tariff No. 1×, 800Service Management system functions specified the functionality of aService Management system that would be operated by the Bell OperatingCompanies (BOCs). One embodiment of a tariff is Tariff F.C.C. No. 1×,800 Service Management System Functions, Issued Jan. 31, 2013, EffectiveFeb. 15, 2013. A disclosed embodiment, originally developed andmaintained by Bellcore, facilitates a company that wishes to providetoll-free service (referred to as a Responsible organization/RespOrg/toll-free service provider) to obtain control of toll-free numbersand provision of the information in the network needed to route calls toa designated terminating number. (This information is sometimes referredto as a Customer Record.) This tariff outlines the requirements forbecoming a toll-free service provider, the capabilities required of thedisclosed embodiment to allow toll-free service providers to search forand reserve toll-free numbers and provision Customer Record information,and how toll-free service providers may be to be billed for use of thedisclosed embodiment and control of toll-free numbers.

With geographic portability made possible through the use of centralizedrouting databases, it became possible for the same toll-free number tobe dialed from anywhere in the country and for the toll-free call to bedelivered to different destinations based on routing criteria specifiedin the Customer Record. Toll-free service quickly grew in popularity,and the supply of available 800 numbers neared exhaustion. The toll-freecode 888 was opened in 1996, followed by 877 in 1998, 866 in 2000, and855 in 2010. Plans may be underway for opening of the 844 code in thenear future and the FCC tariff has designated the future use of the 833and 822 codes. As the value of toll-free service and the advantages tohaving a meaningful combination of digits in a toll-free number(referred to as a vanity number) became increasingly apparent, numerouscompanies became toll-free service providers and established businessesselling toll-free service. Today, there may be more than 450 toll-freeservice providers, including telecommunications network providers,resellers, and independent organizations.

To understand routing of toll-free calls, it may be useful to understandhow routing is performed for standard (i.e., not toll-free) calls.

With reference to FIG. 28, the North American Numbering Plan (NANP)2800, introduced in the 1940s, established the 10-digit telephone numberformat used in the United States, Canada, and neighboring countries inthe Caribbean. The format, shown in FIG. 28 consists of a three-digitNumbering Plan Area (NPA) code, and a seven-digit telephone number thatincludes three digits that identify an office code or local exchange andfour digits that identify the individual number within the office code.The NPA, or area code, uniquely identifies a geographic area, the officecode uniquely identifies a central office switching system (historicallyreferred to as an exchange) within an NPA, and the line number points tothe service components and dedicated resources in the switching systemthat provide the service instance identified by the line number.

When toll-free service was introduced in 1967, telephone calls wererouted using information provisioned in each Public Switched TelephoneNetwork (PSTN) local switching system. A routing table specified how theswitch should process an originating call based on the digits dialed bythe calling party and the arrangement of facilities that connected theswitch to other switches. A switch has direct connections to otherswitches in the same area and connections to intermediate switchescalled tandems that provide the next hop toward other switches operatedby the same company. Additional connections to specialized tandemsprovide access to long distance networks to transport calls to switchesoutside the local area. The local area where a company provides servicesis known as a Local Access and Transport Area (LATA).

The NPA or NPA-NXX of the dialed called party number identifies an entryin the routing table that points to the route needed to transport thecall toward the terminating switch that serves the dialed line number.Initially, calls within a local area only required 7-digit dialing (justthe NXX and the final 4 digits), but as the demand for telephone numbersgrew, additional area codes were opened within a local area, and itbecame necessary to dial 10 digits for both local and long distancecalls. If the digits dialed may be for an NPA-NXX served by the sameswitch, the routing table can indicate that a call should be offered tothe subscriber identified by the telephone number. If the digits dialedindicate a NPA-NXX not served by the switch, the routing table can pointto a route to a neighboring local switch, a local tandem, or along-distance tandem.

Unlike a typical NPA, the 800 code introduced to identify toll-freenumbers does not identify a unique area to which a call can be routed.To support toll-free service, additional entries had to be made in eachlocal switch routing table to indicate the route for an 800-NXX code.Calling a particular 800 number was limited to the local switches thathad been provisioned with routing information for that number.Additionally, further routing information was required at a terminatingswitch to map the 800 number to the terminating line.

In the early 1980s, AT&T introduced centralized call routing databasesto handle routing of 800 calls. With a centralized database, it was notnecessary to provision routing information for toll-free numbers inevery local switch. Instead, switches were configured to query thedatabase for routing information when it was recognized that an 800number had been dialed. The database can be provisioned with routinginformation to direct a call to a route based on many factors, providingflexibility and removing the association of an 800 number to a specificlocal switch. This made it possible for a company to own a national 800number and for calls to that number to be routed to a different localswitch depending on where the call originated or the time of day. Theflexibility provided by centralized call routing databases also enabledany carrier to provide service for any 800 number. Both geographic andcarrier portability for toll-free service had become possible.

Today, in addition to toll-free calling, services like local numberportability, operator services, and Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN)features, make use of advanced routing capabilities enabled by signalingsystem 7 (SS7).

With reference to FIG. 29, in the SS7 network 2900, the local switch isknown as a Service Switching Point (SSP). A Signal Transfer Point (STP)2902 provides routing of SS7 messages, and databases with call routingand feature information may be known as Service Control Points (SCP)2904. To enable advanced routing via a centralized database, localswitch routing tables may be configured to trigger a query to a databasefor additional call processing instructions based on various criteria.

In the case of a toll-free call origination, the switch can recognizethe 8XX code in the dialed digits and launch a query to an SCP forrouting information using the SS7 Signaling Connection Control Part(SCCP) protocol to transport a Transaction Capabilities Application Part(TCAP) query.

As shown in FIG. 30, the query may be routed by an STP to an SCP thathas been provisioned with the information that describes how to routethe toll-free call. In some cases the initial SCP that is queried by thelocal switch can return information that can cause the call to be routedto a switch operated by another carrier where a subsequent query to adifferent SCP can be performed to obtain the routing information neededto direct the call to the destination.

The routing information, consisting of a carrier code and terminatingnumber, is returned in a TCAP response to the originating switch. Theswitch uses the information to select a route from its routing databaseand continues processing 3000 of the toll-free call.

Toll-free number administration includes management of number assignmentand provisioning of customer records. This section describes thetoll-free business, the key stakeholders, roles and responsibilities,and disclosed embodiment capabilities.

Key aspects of the toll-free number business may be described by the FCCtariff. This tariff, describing “regulations, rates and charges applyingto the provisioning of functions and support services” was firstreleased in 1993. Updates have occurred since, with the latest releasedJanuary, 2013, becoming effective in February, 2013. This tariffdescribes the undertakings of the company responsible for the disclosedembodiment and the capabilities required of embodiments of the systemitself. It defines key terminology and specifies the responsibilities oftoll-free service providers, who may be the primary users of thedisclosed embodiment. It also provides a schedule of rates and chargeswith regulations for billing toll-free service providers for disclosedembodiment access and usage. System requirements defined by this, or anyother, tariff may be provided in “Business Rules” Section.

Some key participants in the toll-free business 3100 and theinteractions between them may be illustrated in FIG. 31. Note that aprimary geographic area for the toll-free business is the United States,Canada, and other areas where the NANP is used.

A toll-free subscriber contacts a toll-free service provider to ordertoll-free service. The toll-free service provider may be a carrier whooperates a network or may have a relationship with a network provider inorder to enable service. The toll-free service provider has an interfaceto the disclosed embodiment to search the pool of unassigned toll-freenumbers and reserve one or more for use by the toll-free subscriber.Working with the toll-free subscriber, the Resp. Org determines howcalls to the toll-free number should be routed.

On behalf of the toll-free subscriber, the toll-free service providerenters a Customer Record in the disclosed embodiment that specifiesrouting and carrier information for the toll-free number. The disclosedembodiment sends this information to the SCPs that control real-timerouting of calls in the network. When the SCPs have received the routinginformation in the customer record, toll-free service is enabled for thetoll-free number.

The toll-free subscriber has a business relationship with the toll-freeservice provider 3102 to pay for toll-free service. The toll-freeservice provider has a relationship with the TFMP to pay for access tothe disclosed embodiment and use of the toll-free number assigned to thetoll-free subscriber.

There may be a number of stakeholders that play key roles in thetoll-free business, which may include those that follow:

FCC 3108—The FCC is the federal agency that has responsibility for theFCC tariff that specifies the need for a toll-free number ServiceManagement system and defines the regulations, rates, and chargesapplicable for the use of system functions and support services. The FCCmay approve changes to rates or other aspects of the FCC tariff.

The TFMP 100—The TFMP is responsible for the administration andoperations of the disclosed embodiment and enforcement of theregulations outlined by a tariff. The TFMP may retain a number ofcontractors to assist with the activities required to manage thedisclosed embodiment and related functions, including maintaining thedisclosed embodiment software, running the data centers that house thedisclosed embodiment, performing routine and corrective maintenanceactivities on the disclosed embodiment hardware, handling billing foraccess and use of the disclosed embodiment, and running the help desk tohandle questions and requests from disclosed embodiment users.

Administrators and the TFMP Help Desk personnel can access the disclosedembodiment. Administrators can enter and maintain configuration andreference information needed for operation of the disclosed embodiment.Help Desk personnel can assist with troubleshooting access and CustomerRecord issues, complete TFMP Requests, and submit trouble reports.

Toll-Free Subscribers—Toll-free subscribers may be the end users oftoll-free service. Toll-free service includes a toll-free telephonenumber and the network capabilities that enable calls to a toll-freenumber to be delivered to a designated terminating number according toconditions specified by the toll-free subscriber. Toll-free service isobtained from a toll-free service provider.

Toll-free service providers (aka Resp Orgs)—Toll-free service providersmay be responsible for the overall coordination required to provision,maintain, and test toll-free service. A toll-free service provider maybe a carrier that operates a network or instead could be an independentcompany or organization that interfaces with a carrier to arrangetoll-free service. Toll-free service providers may be the primary usersof disclosed embodiment. In embodiments, the system may be used tosearch for and reserve toll-free numbers for subscribers and provisionCustomer Records that provide the network with the information needed toroute toll-free calls. Toll-free service providers may be billed foraccess and use of the disclosed embodiment and control of toll-freenumbers on a monthly basis as described by a tariff.

Toll-free service providers often maintain sub-organizations based ongeography or other organization classifications. The toll-free serviceprovider entity is the top-level organization against which reservationlimits may be imposed (represented by the first 2 digits of toll-freeservice provider ID in the current system). The sub-organization withina toll-free service provider entity (represented by the full 5 digittoll-free service provider ID in the current system) is referred to as atoll-free service provider unit. The toll-free service provider userswho access the disclosed embodiment can be associated with a toll-freeservice provider unit and the corresponding toll-free service providerentity. A toll-free service provider entity may manage many toll-freeservice provider units, each having a unique toll-free service providerID.

SCP Owners/Operators (SCP O/O)—SCPs may be the databases in the SS7network that contain the information used to route toll-free calls. SCPOwners/Operators contract with the TFMP to receive updates from thedisclosed embodiment. An interface is established between the disclosedembodiment and the SCPs so Customer Record information can beprovisioned to SCPs to enable the real-time routing of toll-free calls.SCP O/Os may be billed for this service.

At SCP O/O companies, the SCP administrator is responsible forestablishing reference data about the SCPs and their corresponding SS7networks. The administrator also manages tables at the SCP node and theCall Management Services Database (CMSDB) within the SCP to set controlsand limits for SCP operations. They may be permitted to access andchange data only for the O/O's SCPs in the SS7 network.

A network manager is a member of Network Management Center (NMC) orNetwork Operations Center (NOC) at the SCP O/O company staff responsiblefor managing mass calling surveillance and control capabilities in itsmanaged SS7 networks.

SCP O/O SCP administrators and SCO O/O Network managers may be users ofthe disclosed embodiment.

Billing Administrator—This function coordinates the Billing of allcustomers, using information provided in the disclosed embodiment.

Industry and Regulatory Liaison—This function uses information in thedisclosed embodiment to respond to inquiries or to make inquiries to theregulatory bodies.

Carriers—Actual telephone entity that carries the toll-free call.Carriers operate networks that process telephone calls. Local-ExchangeCarriers (LECs) operate end office switches that provide access serviceto subscribers and carry calls within a local area, known as a LATA.Interexchange carriers (IC) carry calls between local areas. Asubscriber receives service from a local-exchange carrier and designatesthe default IC to carry calls between LATAs. Historically, localcarriers and ICs were distinct, but today a carrier can be both a LECand an IC. A carrier may also be an SCP O/O, or a carrier may obtain SS7signaling and database services from a separate SCP O/O.

With reference to FIG. 32, in one disclosed embodiment, the architecture3200 for a solution for toll-free with key enhancements to support theunique requirements for toll-free number administration and call routingis illustrated.

With reference to FIG. 33, in one disclosed embodiment, the architecture3300 provides number administration capabilities for toll-free numbersfacilitating integration between PSTN and an IP network. This unifiedplatform can serve both PSTN and IP enabled numbers.

Toll-free subscribers work with Resp Orgs to search and reservetoll-free numbers. Responsible organizations continue to populate thedisclosed architecture with CICs for PSTN numbers and an NS Records forIP-enabled numbers.

The disclosed embodiments of the architecture can store additionalmetadata (for example: toll-free CNAM, industry code, description,license status, trade group affiliations, BBB ratings and such) for thetoll-free organization. As the transition completes, toll-free callswould provide consumer assurance through a validated neutral third partytrust chain to significantly improve consumer confidence and preventidentity fraud.

In addition to the NS Record for the iSCP, Resp Orgs can choose toconfigure aspects of the routing logic with the disclosed architecture(second dip). They can map a SIP URI to a toll-free record. In thisexample scenario, a Resp Org would copy over that information with theiSCPs. In addition to the enhanced aspects of the iSCP, the iSCP mayalso facilitate direct IP interconnects between RespOrgs and theirservice providers, if desired, through sharing additional metadata abouta route.

With reference to FIG. 34, Toll-free numbers 3414 (unlike mobile andlandline numbers) have evolved to be a branding and identity vehicle.Companies are increasingly using their toll-free numbers along withtheir online assets to provide an integrated customer experience. Withthis growth, availability of vanity numbers has become sparse and demandis increasing. In embodiments, a toll-free tagging service may beprovided that includes a subscription-based service that is madeavailable to Responsible Organizations (Resp Orgs), consumers andbusinesses. The toll-free tagging service may provide the ability to taga toll-free number (or group of numbers), and once a number is tagged,to track updates to that number (e.g., a change in ownership, change inavailability, increase in search statistics) that may then bedistributed (“pushed”) to customers through emails/text messages orother means. Subscribers of the toll-free tagging service may also havethe ability to create, view, update and delete tags through a webapplication, mobile application, or some other user interface.

The toll-free tagging service may alternatively or additionally beembodied in a distributed computing environment, such as a cloud basedcomputing network. In another embodiment, the toll-free tagging servicemay be utilized via hybrid networks, including usage of a cellulartelephone network (and associated mobile communication devices, such assmart phones), a distributed, cloud network and an enterprise networkassociated with a carrier or other business organization (and anycombination or sub-combination of such networks). The toll-free taggingservice may permit the user to access the reporting capabilities of theTFMP through a client device, such as a personal computer, mobile phone,tablet computer, or some other computing facility, and receive data,including multimedia to the user's client device. Functionalities of theTFMP include, but are not limited to, Number Administration (NA) andCustomer Record (CR) administration.

In embodiments, subscribers may be provided options to create customtoll-free number tags based on keywords, using a website. Subscribersmay have the option to choose, for example:

-   -   Keywords that spell a number (for example 800-Success)    -   Category based tagging (for example “Laundry”)    -   Location based tagging (for example “California Numbers”)    -   Popularity (suggestions based on search engine metrics)    -   Social Media mentions (Facebook and twitter feeds)    -   Suggestive Tags (based on peer user behavior)

In embodiments, the system may ingest data from a plurality of sources,including but not limited to the following:

-   -   Number popularity sourced from number searches from the        toll-free management platform (TFMP) 3402    -   Number dips sourced from SCPs and network elements 3404    -   Facebook, Linkedin and twitter mentions of key words based on        categories 3408    -   Location information from fuzzy location parameters (including        network location elements like NPA-NXX, ANI, JIP) and such    -   Tag trend report based on tags that are most frequently indexed        3410    -   News and Current event tags    -   User contact sourcing (tag generation from subscribers address        book)    -   User social feed sourcing (tag generation based on users social        media feeds)    -   Seasonal tag sourcing (for example, Thanksgiving ads)

In embodiments, the TFMP 100 may allow for differentiated services basedon subscriptions through a user interface 3420. For example, serviceofferings may be tiered:

-   -   Regular Tier: May allow for tag alerting based on acceptable        latency. Alerts maybe available through a non-guaranteed        delivery mechanism like email, and allows for basic subscription        services with a cap on subscribers.    -   Plus Tier: May allow for low latency alerting based on multiple        mechanisms. Premium customer support and access to artificial        intelligence based indexing may be provided to see popular tags.        This may allow for extended customer bases.    -   Premium Tier: May allow for premium access to see search        patterns from others, unlimited tags, high speed and high        frequency alerting, and the like. May also allow for an “auto        reserve” function.

In embodiments, the tagging service of the TFMP may provide an unbiasedvaluation for a number or group of numbers based on several factorsincluding, but not limited to:

-   -   Tag popularity    -   Industry financial metrics    -   Call completion, dip status    -   Average call duration    -   Vanity-ness

In embodiments, the tagging service of the TFMP may source data fromdistributed data sniffers that reside in networks to see dip rate anddip volume for popular numbers. This data may be compiled with otherdata sources including, for example, Google™ and Alexa™ trends (or otherweb traffic data and analytics) for tags and provide a heat map thatshows “hot spots” for where the numbers are in demand and who is callingthese numbers, nationally and internationally. In another example, aview may be provided that is a near real time valuation trend (e.g.,analogous to a stock ticker) for, say, the top 10 tags/numbers bystate/city. Current methods are limited in that they cannot combine callorigination data, with social media and other public domain data, andnear real-time, apply a valuation model to display a trends and priceson an interactive map, however the methods and systems of the TFMPenable such functionality.

The toll-free tagging service may alternatively or additionally utilizethe TFMP system and may include a subsystem, referred to as a “node,”that may be used to build a decision tree that is downloaded to theSCPs. The decision tree may be used in various manners as otherwisedescribed to facilitate call efficiency. Tagging data associated withtoll-free numbers may be used, including with real-time networkinformation and static call routing information, to create a real-timecall path score. In an example, a toll-free number that is associatedwith spoofing or other fraudulent call activity may be tagged as aproblematic number and a call route assigned to it to minimize thefinancial impact of receiving a high volume of fraudulent calls to thetoll-free number. SCPs may also be a source of real-time call routingdata and data used for tagging purposes. Using this informationfacilitates extrapolation and determination of uptime, downtime,congestion, geographical movement and economic movement of peoplecommunicating via calls. Based on real-time data that can be obtainedfrom the SCPs and from the network, the TFMP may create a score that canbe assigned to each call decision node. Such a score may also be usedfor the purposes of tagging. Similar to a mapping algorithm that usesdistance and speed limit, given a starting point and a destination, thequickest or shortest map may be mapped. Changes in the call routing treemay be dependent upon an update to the routing tree that is thenvalidated by the TFMP and then downloaded to the SCPs. With the use ofreal-time data, and more network decisions nodes added to a call routingtree based on the needs of the end subscriber, the TFMP may provide theability to allow an end subscriber to have real-time business continuityfor their toll-free number instead of having to contact their serviceprovider, or getting a ticket opened to update their routing tree, andthen having it download to all the SCPs for the new routing to takeplace. In embodiments, a call path score and real-time routing may bebased on the best possible availability score. This may also be modifiedby the TFMP to allow for lowest cost score, based on the per-call andper-minute cost for particular carrier. The call score may be updatedduring low activity periods with a date/time stamp associated with it.This may allow real-time, or near real time, detection of a path'sstatus. Upon completion of a call down a particular path, the TFMP mayalso update the call path score and the data used for the purposes oftagging. Further, real time status changes in a telecommunicationsnetwork, the performance of a given call route, or some other statuschange, may be used as additional tagging data. In an example, atoll-free number that may experience a season high-demand may begin tooperate less efficiently, this metadata 3412 may be tagged to thetoll-free number for use in, for example, predictive analytics providedby the TFMP regarding temporal changes in call activities and theoptimization of certain call routes. Toll-free numbers tagged as havingsignificant seasonal variation in call volume, or some other criterion,may have additional enhanced routing trees created for the purpose ofhandling peak seasonal call demands. A plurality of tagged numbers maybe further associated with a TSPID so that a common entity associatedwith the toll-free numbers may be identified.

In embodiments, number trend optimization 3410 may be provided by theTFMP in order to provide recommendations to target the right audiencefor a number. Recommendations may include marketing a number on acertain media within a certain geography to promote calls to the rightcustomer. Call origination data (in partnership with the calloriginators and service control points (SCPs)) will be sources toprovide effectiveness metrics to users based on, for example,originating numbers and derived call success rates (based on averagecall duration) and call completion. The toll-free tagging service mayalternatively or additionally be utilized with predictive analyticservices that allow a user, through the customizable user interface, or“dashboard,” to access third party data services, sponsored data andinformation derived from toll-free telecommunications networks,including but not limited to telecommunications carriers, servicecontrol points, call centers, or other parties affiliated with atoll-free telecommunication network. As elsewhere described, originationdata may be combined with social media and other public domain thirdparty data, and near real-time, apply a valuation model to display atrend and prices on an interactive map via the TFMP.

The following are illustrative clauses demonstrating non-limitingembodiments of the disclosure described herein:

A method comprising:

-   -   receiving data relating to at least one of a dip rate or dip        volume that is associated with a toll-free number;    -   receiving social media data relating to usage of the toll-free        number;    -   analyzing the combined data and social media data to create a        valuation metadata tag that is associated with the toll-free        number, wherein the valuation metadata is a quantitative summary        of the demand associated with the toll-free number; and    -   distributing a communication to an entity regarding the current        valuation of the toll-free number.

A method comprising:

-   -   analyzing data relating to a toll-free number and social media        data to create a valuation metadata tag that is associated with        the toll-free number, wherein the valuation metadata is a        quantitative summary of the inferred economic activity        associated with the toll-free number;    -   inferring a rating of a second toll-free number based at least        in part on the valuation metadata, wherein the toll-free number        and the second toll-free number share an attribute; and storing        the inferred rating of the second toll-free number.

A method comprising:

-   -   receiving data relating to at least one of a dip rate or dip        volume that is associated with a toll-free number;    -   receiving social media data relating to usage of the toll-free        number;    -   analyzing the combined data and social media data to create a        valuation metadata tag that is associated with the toll-free        number, wherein the valuation metadata is a quantitative summary        of the demand associated with the toll-free number; and    -   initiating a toll-free number reservation based on the current        valuation of the toll-free number.

With reference to FIG. 35, routing information in NS records 3500 may bedownloaded to originating service provider (SP) ENUM or similardirectory for call control. PSTN Call originations can continue existingPSTN 8xx call flow.

IP call originations can use an intelligent ENUM-like and SIP enabledintelligent Service Control Point (iSCP). In embodiments, manygeographically redundant, highly available iSCP servers can reside inthe originating service providers or provided by independent thirdparties. iSCPs can operate in mixed mode (SIP and PSTN) or beexclusively SIP. iSCPs provide ENUM like functionality enhanced withintelligent routing capabilities required for toll-free routing.

For IP call originations, the originating service provider queries itslocal naming (ENUM-like capability) server for call routing. The SP ENUMor similar service delegates the 8xx number queries to the iSCPs(similar to level 2 DNS). iSCPs execute intelligent call routing logic,and return a SIP Redirect with a URI for the SIP gateway of thetoll-free service provider. The originating service provider can thenroute the SIP INVITE to the terminating toll-free subscriber's serviceprovider.

For IP calls terminating to the PSTN network, the originating serviceprovider queries its ENUM server similar to IP termination as describedabove, with the iSCP returning the URI for a PSTN gateway.

Toll-free numbers follow the NANP 10-digit format (NPA-NXX-XXXX) usedfor all telephone numbers in North America. A toll-free NPA designatedby the FCC, such as 800 or 888, identifies a number as a toll-freenumber. Toll-free numbering may follow the E.164 format for identifyingtelephone numbers. The disclosed embodiment maintains status andassociated information for the complete pool of toll-free numbers.

The Number Administration function provides the ability for a user toperform any of the following capabilities:

-   -   Number Query: the ability to find out information such as        availability, toll-free provider ownership, and status about a        specific toll-free number.    -   Number Search: the ability to look for one or many toll-free        numbers.    -   Number Reserve: the ability to reserve one or many toll-free        numbers for his/her toll-free provider based upon the results of        a search.    -   Number Search & Reserve: the ability to search for one or many        toll-free numbers and reserve them in the same single user        action.

Except when noted otherwise, all number reservations may be taken andprocessed on a first come/first served basis. In embodiments, this maybe due to a tariff requirement and true regardless of the source of therequest.

A status is associated with each toll-free number that changes based onuser actions to search for and reserve numbers and to provision anddelete Customer Records for a number. Other status changes may be madeautomatically by embodiments of the system based on rules specified by atariff.

The business rules around status change in the may include:

-   -   Spare—Number is available to be reserved. No toll-free service        provider entity has control of the number.    -   Reserved—Toll-free service provider entity has taken control of        the number, but a Customer Record has not yet been provisioned.    -   Assigned—Customer Record has been provisioned in the disclosed        embodiment, but has not been sent to SCPs.    -   Working—Customer Record has been sent to SCPs and accepted by at        least one SCP.    -   Disconnect—Toll-free service has ended and intercept treatment,        such as an announcement, is provided; a Customer Record may be        needed to specify routing for intercept treatment.    -   Transitional—Toll-free service and intercept service, if        provided, have ended; there is no longer routing information in        SCPs for the number and therefore no active Customer Record        reflecting current information in an SCP associated with the        number.    -   Unavailable—Number cannot be reserved by a toll-free service        provider.    -   Suspend—Number has been disconnected but has a Customer Record        to restore service, or number is the subject of a billing        dispute.

For all statuses except usually SPARE and UNAVAILABLE, a toll-freeservice provider entity may be associated with the number. Thisassociation begins when the toll-free service provider entity takescontrol of the number by completing a reservation. Except when notedotherwise, all number reservations may be taken on a first come/firstserved basis.

With reference to FIG. 36, in another embodiment for one clickactivation 118, a widget 3602 may be embedded within a webpage 3604 tofacilitate reservation of a toll-free number via a user interface 1806.The term widget as used herein may refer to a client side, browser basedapplication which displays data coming from different sources. In anembodiment, the widget 3602 may also be used on a mobile device as amobile app. The embedded widget 3602 may communicate with a server 3608using an API 3608 such as secure Restful API.

The widget 3602 may be embedded within a webpage 3604 with HTML tags.The complexity and logic may thus be hidden in the Javascript thatresides on the server 3608. Loading the widget 3602 on to the hostingwebpage 3604 may be performed through a bootstrap script that, forexample, may be written as a Javascript file, or in some other language,that resides in the server 3608. A script tag can then be used to invokeloading this, thereby loading the bootstrap.

Generally, there are two ways to embed the content on the hostingwebpage 3604, using IFrame, or using DOM in Javascript, and placing itwithin the host site or a combination thereof. The host page may be aclient website within which the widget 3602 is embedded.

Communication technology may include HTML5, JavaScript, CSS, JSON andRestful API and services. The client may utilize HTML5, Javascript, orCSS whereas the server may provide the Restful API and services. Inorder for the widget to communicate with the host page or if the widgetneeds to send data to the server, based on what is being used, it can beperformed using Normal Post, AJAX (asynchronously), or some otherprocess. In order for cross domain communication between the host page,embedded code or IFrame, HTML 5's API called postMessage may be used.JSON is a file format that is understood by both client and server andhence may be also be readily used for data representation and transfer.

With reference to FIG. 37, various methods may be utilized to securethis communication. The widget 3602 may include a login feature 3902 inorder to use the services. After initial credential validation withusername and password, tokens may be provided to users. This may be usedin the subsequent communication back to the server. In the alternative,API keys may be used. On authentication and authorization, varioussearch 3904, reserve 3906, activation 3910, and confirmation 3912elements may be provided.

With reference to FIG. 38, one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of amethod 3800 may be initiated by loading the webpage 3604 (step 3802)then lazy loading the widget 3608 (step 3804). That is, the lazy loadingmay be utilized to minimize any effect upon the loading speed of thewebpage 3604. Once the widget 3608 is loaded (step 3804) the login andsearch features (step 3808) are provided such thatreservation/activation may be initiated.

The widget 3602 may be particularly beneficial to a business ownerand/or Resp Org/Toll Free Service Provider. The business owner whovisits a web page may view the widget 3602 that includes a statementsuch as, for example, “Reserve your Toll Free Number” or “Do you haveyour Toll Free Number?” with a ready presented text field to search fora desired Toll Free Number or to enter their business name. A list ofappropriate or related toll free numbers and an option to reserve andactivate is thereby provided in a one-click or relatively one-clickmanner.

For a Resp Org/Toll Free Service Provider, the widget 3602 can beembedded in their portal. The widget 3602 provides a login page suchthat the widget 3602 provides a text field to reserve toll-free numbersalong with a drop down list of numbers that expire in the next month anda popup link to extend. A popup link may also provide historicalinformation such as their last 10 actions. The widget 3602 may alsodisplay a popup link to display status of the toll-free numbers in whicha user previously indicated interest.

In the toll-free industry, it currently is a multi-step process toobtain a toll-free number and submit a request to active that number. Itrequires the user to first search and reserve a number and then in aseparate transaction, often on a separate user screen, input theinformation to create a toll-free number routing record that is sent tothe service control points (SCPs), thus activating the number for use.According to embodiments of the present disclosure, users may completesuch a request related to activation of a toll-free number in a singleuser interaction with the system, providing minimal information. Thisprocess may provide a one-click-type functionality, hereinafter referredto as one-click activate, to activate the number, and will, in the samesingle-step user activation search for the toll-free number based uponuser criteria. Initiation of the one-click activation may be facilitatedby the use of a widget, as described herein, such as a widget operatingon a client device. In embodiments, a one-click activate request may bea request from a user to 1) search for a number, or multiple numbers,that fit a provided search criteria, 2) reserve the number(s) matchingthe criteria, and 3) activate the number(s) using a selected customerrecord template, as described herein, and producing a pointer record.The final result of this request will be a toll-free number assigned tothe user's Resp Org that has a customer pointer record assigned to it.

In embodiments, a user may utilize a new user interface screen,including but not limited to a customizable dashboard, as describedherein, that may be accessed from a landing page of the user interfacethat is associated with the TFMP. The new screen may be referred to asthe “Search—Reserve—Active,” also referred to herein as the S-R-A, fromthe landing page. A user may be required to have the correct permissionsto be able to perform these actions, such as:

-   -   The user must have Update in NUS_PERMISSIONS    -   The user must have Update in PAD_PERMISSIONS

The S-R-A may also provide for predictive analytic services that may beprovided to a user, through the customizable user interface, ordashboard, to access third party data services, sponsored data andinformation derived from toll-free telecommunications networks,including but not limited to telecommunications carriers, servicecontrol points, call centers, or other parties affiliated with atoll-free telecommunication network. As elsewhere described, originationdata may be combined with social media and other public domain thirdparty data, and near real-time, apply a valuation model to display atrends and prices on an interactive map via the TFMP.

In embodiments, the S-R-A screen may be a clone of a number searchscreen that is associated with the TFMP, and have, but not be limitedto, the following screen design elements:

-   -   Present an action button called “Activate New Number”    -   Provide an action for the user to select a template record to be        used for activation from a drop down list of template records    -   Provide an action for the user to specify information necessary        to be supplied in order to active a number, including but not        limited to the following:        -   Effective date & time—A future date and time or “now.” Now            may indicate that the record should go directly to an            activated state.        -   Service order number        -   Number of lines to validate

With reference to FIG. 39, a sample UI design 3900 is provided. The UImay alternatively or additionally be embodied in a distributed computingenvironment, such as a cloud based computing network. In anotherembodiment, the UI may be hybrid networks, including usage of a cellulartelephone network (and associated mobile communication devices, such assmart phones), a distributed, cloud network and an enterprise networkassociated with a carrier or other business organization (and anycombination or sub-combination of such networks).

In embodiments, when a user selects the S-R-A function of the landingpage, the system may retrieve a list of customer template records thathave been defined for a Resp Org. If this Resp Org does not have anycustomer template records defined, the user may receive a messagenotifying the user of a lack of required definition, such as “E205:Search, Reserve, & Activate functionality requires the users Resp Org tohave at least one customer template record defined. Your Resp Org doesnot.” The user may then be returned to the Landing page. If the Resp Orgdoes have customer template records defined, the customer templaterecord names may be displayed in a scrolling list on the screen. Theuser may then select one of the customer template records for use in therequest.

In embodiments, a user may select a number search criterion thatprovides the ability to specify a specific number, a number withwildcard selection, or the NPA, NXX, and line number selections. Theuser may elect to have a set of default information (template, effectivedate, and service order number and so forth) associated with their RespOrg and/or user ID. Rather than select these items, the user may electto use default values that are provided, thus expediting the processeven further. The user may also elect not to use the default values, andmay then supply the values. The search process may also includeutilizing predictive analytics of the TFMP, as described herein, inorder to learn more about the history and metadata that is associatedwith a number. Toll-free numbers, including those that are reservedand/or activated using the one-click activation may be tagged, using themethods and systems described herein, according to criteria of interestto a user. In an example, a user may search for toll-free numbers basedon a predictive analytic result of toll-free numbers the TFMP hasdetermined are active in the New England area. Predictive analyticresults may also relate to specific populations of interest to a user(e.g., New York residents), behavioral data, or some other dataparameter.

In embodiments, a number may then be reserved and/or activated andtagged by the user as a number that is relevant to the New Englandmarketplace. Prior to reserving or activating a number, a user may alsocheck a TFMP registry to determine if there is a history of reports ofabuse associated with the number, for example frequent fraudulent calls(i.e., “spoofing”). The user may tag toll-free numbers in order to notethis history of abuse, or other factor of interest, for future searches,and reserved or activated numbers may be associated with a toll-freeservice provider identifier (TSPID). The TSPID may be an existing TSPIDthat the user has, or as part of the one-click to activate method andsystem, a new TSPID may be created for the user. The user may select acustomer template record from a list to be used when creating a pointerrecord used to active toll free number(s). The user may select only onecustomer template record to be used and that template record may be usedwith every number requested in this particular request. The user mayselect an effective date and time for the request. The user may furtherspecify a future date and time or select “now” for immediate processing.Formatting and validation criteria may also be provided. The user maycomplete additional fields as necessary for a pointer record to becreated:

-   -   Service Order number    -   Number of Lines

In embodiments, once all the required fields are populated, the user mayselect the “Activate New Number” button to start the process. Theprocess may include the search of, and reservation for, the toll-freenumber(s), and the submission of a request to create a pointer recordfor the number(s). Errors encountered along the way may result in anerror being reported back to the user for that number. In an example,requests of more than ten numbers may be processed in the background,from the perspective of the user. The user's request may be validatedand the user provided a request ID. Control of the one-click activatefunction may be given back to the user with a notice that they will beinformed when the request completes. In another example, requests forten or fewer numbers may be processed in real time and the results arereturned to the user when the request completes.

In embodiments, the one-click activate function may perform a search andreserve function for all the requested numbers in blocks of up to tennumbers, depending upon how many numbers are requested. The activationfunction of the process may require a separate system request for eachnumber being activated. The one-click activate function may control theprocessing of the individual requests so that, from a user standpoint,it appears as a single user interaction with the system, and a responsedoes not go back to the user until the process has been completed. Oncethe request has completed processing, the one-click activate functionmay display back to the user in the search results area of the screen(e.g., ten or fewer numbers) the list of numbers and information aboutthem similar to how it is done with the search and reservefunctionality, as described herein. For more than, for example, tennumbers, the results may be made available in the communication area offthe landing page.

In embodiments, a parking lot functionality may allow a user to gothrough a similar one-click activate process, but instead ofestablishing specific routing for a number via a customer recordtemplate, the user may define the routing for this number as “parked.”Parked in this context means that the number may have a default routingto a pre-defined customer announcement so the number can be activatedwithout a final determination of the routing and when called, the usermay be presented with this announcement stating the service this numberprovides is not currently available.

The following are illustrative clauses demonstrating non-limitingembodiments of the disclosure described herein:

A method comprising:

-   -   receiving a one-click activate request from a user, wherein the        request includes at least a customer record template reference        and an indication of when to active a toll-free number        associated with the request;    -   searching a responsible organization record to determine the        presence of a defined customer template record relating to the        user request, wherein the responsible organization is associated        with toll-free telecommunications;    -   retrieving at least one customer template record, wherein the        customer template record is a defined customer template record        for the responsible organization; and    -   activating the user request, wherein the activation includes at        least one of activating or reserving the toll-free number.

A user interface, comprising:

-   -   a webpage; and    -   a widget operable to reserve a toll free number embedded within        the webpage.

A method to secure user interface, comprising:

-   -   lazy loading a widget operable to reserve a toll free number        embedded within a webpage.

A representative flow operation showing the current system common numberstatus transitions for activation of a toll-free service, starting witha number in SPARE status 4002, is shown in FIG. 40. Transitions that maynot be part of the typical flow may not be illustrated in FIG. 40,including transition from WORKING 4004 to ASSIGNED 4008 and ASSIGNED4008 to RESERVED 4010, as well as transitions to and from UNAVAILABLEstatus. SUSPEND 4012, DISCONNECT 4014 and TRANSITIONAL 4016 features maybe provided. This flow is shown to facilitate understanding of systemstatus transitions as may be understood by the customers.

A description of possible number status transitions is provided in thebelow table. This flow is shown to facilitate understanding of systemstatus transitions as is understood by the customers and is not adictate of limitations thereto.

Transition Transition From To Trigger Initial Spare System administratoropens a toll-free NPA-NXX. Creation Spare Reserved Successfulreservation by toll-free service provider entity user or systemadministrator user. Spare Unavailable System administrator user action.Reserved Assigned CR provisioned against the number. Reserved Spare Timesince transition from SPARE to RESERVED has reached specified limit(Reserved Duration Limit, currently specified by FCC as 45 days) or useraction. Reserved Unavailable System administrator user action. AssignedWorking CR has been sent to SCPs and accepted by at least one. AssignedReserved CR provisioned against the number, but deleted by toll- freeservice provider entity user, and Reserved Duration Limit timer has notbeen reached. Assigned Spare CR provisioned against the number, butdeleted by the toll-free service provider entity user, and ReservedDuration Limit timer has expired. Or Assigned Duration Limit, currentlyspecified by the FCC as 6 months, expires. Working Disconnect CRdisconnect has been accepted by all SCPs and intercept routing is beingprovided. Working Transitional CR has been deleted from all SCPs (nointercept routing provisioned). Disconnect Transitional End Interceptdate has been reached and SCPs have deleted CR. Disconnect Spare Timesince transition from WORKING has reached specified limit (currentlyspecified by FCC as 4 calendar months) or toll-free service providerentity user or system administrator user action. Transitional Spare Timesince transition from WORKING has reached specified limit (currentlyspecified by FCC as 4 calendar months) or toll-free service providerentity user or system administrator user action. Transitional ReservedSystem administrator user action. Transitional Unavailable Systemadministrator user action. Disconnect Suspend “New Connect” CR enteredwhile number is in DISCONNECT status. Suspend Working CR to restoreservice has been sent to SCPs and accepted by at least one. SuspendAssigned Intercept period ends and “New Connect” CR is pending. SuspendSpare Time since transition into SUSPEND has reached specified limit(currently specified as 8 calendar months) with no connect CR or CRdeleted by the toll-free service provider entity user or systemadministrator user. Unavailable Spare System administrator action.

Number Administration: Query, Search, Reserve, and Search & ReserveRequirements - Minimal Feature Set Current state MFS # or New FunctionDescription MFS 1 Current Search Available Find available numbers.Control state Numbers search by configurable parameters. MFS 1a NewLocking numbers Do not lock numbers during a after search straightsearch. Numbers may be only locked on a reserve. MFS 2 Current ReserveAvail ROs reserve available numbers. state Numbers Reservation limitsapply by resp. org & overall number administrator rationing and FIFO.MFS 3 Current Search & Reserve Combination of MFS 1 & 2 in one stateAvailable user action. Numbers MFS 4 Current Query a Number Returnrelevant attributes state regarding a number. MFS 4a Current Number Inembodiments, the system may state Reservation maintain limits for thequantity of Limits numbers an individual toll-free service providerentity is allowed to have in RESERVED status. The current limitspecified by the FCC tariff is the greater of 7.5% of the toll-freeservice provider's working numbers or 2000 numbers, not to exceed 3% ofthe total quantity of SPARE numbers. A system administrator may specifydifferent limits. Defining a limit should be configurable. MFS 4bCurrent Number In embodiments, the system may state Allocation imposeweekly limits for how Limits many numbers a toll-free service providerentity can reserve. The available pool of numbers in SPARE status isdivided into a portion that is allocated to each toll-free serviceprovider entity based on market share and a portion that is allocatedequally among all toll-free service provider Entities. This functionshould be configurable.

Functional Descriptions Function Function Criteria Response CriteriaQuery a Query for a specific number Return information about the Numbernumber including status of the number, Date/time of transition tocurrent status, toll-free service provider, Reserved Until Date,Disconnect Until Date, Last Active Date depending upon permissions.Search for Search for completely random Return a number or list of aNumber number(s) numbers meeting the search criteria (1—configurable maxnumber) with status. The number is not locked until a reserve isexecuted. Search for multiple consecutive numbers with any criteria asspecified herein Search for numbers in a specific NPA (i.e., 800, 888,877, etc.) Search using wildcards to represent any number (i.e.,800-***-CARS) Search for numbers with duplicated numbers in them (i.e.,855-345-&&&& where & means a duplicate numbers like 2222 or 5555) Searchfor numbers containing a specific string of numbers at any point in thenumber (i.e.***-777-0000) Search for numbers starting with a specificstring (i.e., 855-234-****) Search for numbers ending with a specificstring (i.e., 855-***-5555 Search for numbers using alpha characters aswell as numbers (i.e., 888-234-CARS) Reserve a Reserve a single numberselected from Return updated number status of Number a search resultReserved and updated toll-free service provider assigned if number stillavailable; else return notification of number no longer available.Reserve multiple numbers selected Return updated number status of from asearch result (1 - configurable Reserved and updated toll-free maxnumber) service provider assigned for all numbers that may be stillavailable; else return notification of number no longer available forthose that may be not available. Search & Search & Reserve completelyrandom Return a number or list of Reserve a number(s) numbers meetingthe search Number criteria with updated number status of Reserved andupdated toll-free service provider assigned. Search for numbers in aspecific NPA (i.e., 800, 888, 877, etc.) Search using wildcards torepresent any number (i.e., 800-***-CARS) Search & Reserve numbers withduplicated numbers in them (i.e., 855- 345-&&&& where & means aduplicate numbers like 2222 or 5555) Search & Reserve numbers containinga specific string of numbers at any point in the number(i.e.***-777-0000) Search & Reserve numbers starting with a specificstring (i.e., 855-234-****) Search & Reserve numbers ending with aspecific string (i.e., 855-***-5555 Search & Reserve numbers using alphacharacters as well as numbers (i.e., 888-234-CARS)

The below delineated example use cases may be generic in showing theflow for multiple specific cases as defined in the particular exampleuse case.

Use Case ID NA-UC-1 Use Case Name Search for a number Use Case Searchfor a toll-free number or multiple numbers with status of DescriptionSPARE MFS Reference MFS 1; WS 1A; Actor(s) User (toll-free serviceprovider or disclosed embodiment administrator) System (disclosedembodiment) Functional Category NA - Number AdministrationPre-Conditions The user has logged into the system In embodiments, thesystem has verified identity and permissions of the specific user and ofthe toll-free service provider as a whole Post-Conditions User has foundSpare numbers meeting criteria No change for the searched number statusAssumptions None identified Interface None identified ConsiderationsPrimary Flow Step 1 The user initiates a Search. The user may specifynone, one, or more of the following Search criteria: One or more thanone number returned Specific starting NPA Various combinations of alpha& numbers included in the number Specify numbers using wildcards andduplicate value indicators Request consecutive numbers Step 2 Inembodiments, the system returns a number or list of numbers with SPAREstatus Alternate Flows E1: At Step 2, if no values with SPARE status maybe found, embodiments of the system indicates this to the user E2: AtStep 2, if multiple numbers may be requested and there may be not enoughSPARE numbers to match the quantity requested by the user, embodimentsof the system returns the quantity that is available E3: At Step 2, ifthe maximum allowed quantity of RESERVED numbers for the toll-freeservice provider entity has been exceeded, embodiments of the systemindicates this to the user when the SPARE number is returned

Use Case ID NA-UC-2 Use Case Name Reserve a number with spare status UseCase Description Reserve a number or multiple numbers with spare statusbased upon the results of a previously executed Search MFS Reference MFS2 Actor(s) User (toll-free service provider or disclosed embodimentadministrator) System (disclosed embodiment) Functional Category NA -Number Administration Pre-Conditions The user has logged into thesystem. In embodiments, the system has verified identity and permissionsof the specific user and of the toll-free service provider as a wholeThe user has executed a Search that has returned a toll-free number orlist of toll-free numbers in Spare status Post-Conditions Numbers inRESERVED status. Assumptions None identified Interface None identifiedConsiderations Primary Flow Step 1 The user requests Reservation of oneor more of the numbers returned by the system. Step 2 For each numberrequested to be reserved, system verifies that the number is stillavailable (in Spare status) for reservation. Step 3 For each numberrequested to be reserved, system verifies that the toll-free serviceprovider entity has not reached the maximum allowed number of RESERVEDnumbers. Step 4 For each number for which is still available and themaximum allowed quantity of RESERVED numbers has not been reached,embodiments of the system places the requested numbers in RESERVEDstatus, and updates the count of RESERVED numbers for the toll-freeservice provider entity. Step 5 In embodiments, the system indicates thenumbers that have been reserved for the user. Alternate Flows E1: AtStep 2, If a number requested to be reserved is no longer available,embodiments of the system can return to the user a notification thatthis number is no longer available and continue with the list of numbersto be reserved. E2: At Step 3 and 4, if the toll-free service providerentity has reached the maximum allowed number of RESERVED numbers, theReservation attempt fails for that number: an indication of this erroris provided to the user. This applies for each number for whichreservation was requested. At Step 7, embodiments of the system indicatethe numbers that may be reserved and that the maximum allowed quantityof RESERVED numbers has been reached.

Use Case ID NA-UC-3 Use Case Name Search And Reserve a number ormultiple numbers Use Case Search for a number or multiple random inSPARE status using Description any of the available search criteria andreserve the numbers in one operation MFS Reference MFS 3 Actor(s) User(toll-free service provider or disclosed embodiment administrator)System (disclosed embodiment) Functional Category NA - NumberAdministration Pre-Conditions The user has logged into the system Inembodiments, the system has verified identity and permissions of thespecific user and of the toll-free service provider as a wholePost-Conditions Numbers may be in RESERVED status Assumptions Noneidentified Interface None identified Considerations Primary Flow Step 1The user initiates a Search. The user may specify none, one, or more ofthe following Search criteria: One or more than one numbers returnedSpecific starting NPA Various combinations of alpha & numbers includedin the number Specify numbers using wildcards and duplicate valueindicators Request consecutive numbers Step 2 In embodiments, the systemverifies the quantity requested, the current count of numbers reservedfor the toll-free service provider entity, and the maximum allowedquantity of RESERVED numbers. Step 3 In embodiments, the system places aquantity of numbers in RESERVED status, up to the limit allowed for thetoll- free service provider entity, and updates the count of RESERVEDnumbers for the toll-free service provider entity. Step 4 Inembodiments, the system indicates the numbers that have been reservedfor the user. Alternate Flows E1: At Step 2, if no SPARE values may befound, embodiments of the system may indicate this to the user and nofurther action is taken. E2: At Step 2, if the maximum allowed quantityof RESERVED numbers has been exceeded before reserving any numbers,embodiments of the system indicates this to the user and no furtheraction is taken. E3: At Step 4, if the quantity of numbers reserved inStep 3 is less than the quantity requested (because the maximum allowedquantity of RESERVED numbers is reached), embodiments of the systemindicates the numbers that may be reserved and that the maximum allowedquantity of RESERVED numbers has been reached.

Use Case ID NA-UC-4 Use Case Name Query for Information about a numberUse Case Description The user queries embodiments of the system forinformation related to a specific number MFS Reference MFS 4 Actor(s)User (toll-free service provider or disclosed embodiment administrator)System (disclosed embodiment) Functional Category NA - NumberAdministration Pre-Conditions The user has logged into the system Inembodiments, the system has verified identity and permissions of thespecific user and of the toll-free service provider as a wholePost-Conditions No change for the queried numbers Assumptions Noneidentified Interface None identified Considerations Primary Flow Step 1The user requests information about a number. Step 2 In embodiments, thesystem returns status and other information about the number.Information returned depends on the permissions of the user and thetoll-free service provider entity controlling the number. AlternateFlows E1: At Step 2, embodiments of the system provide an indication tothe user information cannot be returned for the number.

EXAMPLES Number Search Using Starting Point

Starting Example Point Starting Point Possible Search Result NXX NXX =321 NPA-321-XXXX to NPA-999-XXXX, where NPA is any valid toll-free NPAand XXXX is 0000-9999 XXXX XXXX = 1234 NPA-NXX-1234 to NPA-NXX-9999,where NPA is any valid toll-free NPA and NXX is any valid NXX in the NPANXX and NXX = 321 and NPA-321-1234 to NPA-999-9999, XXXX = 1234excluding XXXX = 0000-1233, XXXX where NPA is any valid toll-free NPANote: NPA-322-0000 is not a valid response for this search NXX-XXXXNXX-XXXX = NPA-321-1234 to NPA-999-9999, 321-1234 where NPA is any validtoll-free NPA Note: NPA-322-0000 is a valid response for this search

Example Masks Valid and Search Quantity Results for a of QuantityExample Example Consecutive- Con- of Valid Invalid Number secutiveNumbers Search Search SearchMask Numbers Requested Results Results888-234-567* 2-9 4 888-234-5673 888-234-5678 888-234-5674 888-234-5679888-234-5675 888-234-5680 888-234-5676 888-234-5681 888-234-56** 2-99 4888-234-5678 888-234-5698 888-234-5679 888-234-5699 888-234-5680888-234-5700 888-234-5681 888-234-5701 888-234-5&&* 2-9 4 888-234-5111888-234-5888 888-234-5112 888-234-5889 888-234-5113 888-234-5890888-234-5114 888-234-5891 Or 888-234-5885 888-234-5886 888-234-5887888-234-5888

Example Number Search with Mask Characters

Possible Mask Search Character Usage Example Mask Results Wildcard-*Number returned in 888-456-78** 888-456-7800 search results can toinclude any digit in the 888-456-7899 indicated position Repeat Numberreturned in 800-456-&23& 800-456-0230 Wildcard-& search results includes800-456-1231 the same digit in each 800-456-2232 of the positions800-456-3233 indicated 800-456-4234 800-456-5235 800-456-6236800-456-7237 800-456-8238 800-456-9239 Number - 0-9 Number returned in***-87*-**** NPA-870-0000 search results includes to the specified digitin the NPA-879-9999 position(s) indicated Where NPA is a valid toll-freeNPA Alpha - A-Z Number returned in 866-***-TEAM 866-NXX-8326 searchresults includes a where NXX is a digit that maps to the valid NXXletter specified in the position(s) indicated, based on the mappingprovided by a standard telephone keypad

In addition to the existing number search and reserve functionalitynoted above, embodiments of the disclosed architecture may supportsearch and reserve features. Description of at least some of these isprovided at a relatively high level describing the businessfunctionality required as follows:

Search & Reserve Requirements - New Feature Set NFS # FunctionDescription NFS 1 Suggested When a toll-free provider searches for aspecific Number number and that number is not available, the Responsesystem should provide the ability to return suggested alternativenumbers to the user. The alternative numbers would be determined via analgorithm based upon the number requested. This same functionalityshould be able to be expanded to return suggested alternative when apartial number search is performed, but there are no numbers matchingthe mask entered by the user. The user should have the ability to turnoff this feature if they do not want suggestions. Example: The usersearches for 888-222-1234 and it is not available, but 888-777-1234 is,the system can return this as an alternative. NFS 2 Predictive Byperforming an analysis of the toll-free Number providers current numberallocation, provide a list Search of available numbers that that similarcharacter- & Reserve istics to the current allocation. The user shouldthen have one click reservation ability for this number Example: Thetoll-free provider has allocated the numbers 877-234-3000 thru877-234-3015 and the number 877-234-3016 is available, provide this asan informatory suggestion when going to the Search function. NFS 3 UserAllow the toll-free provider to create searches and Saved save them forfuture use. These saved searches Searches could then be executed with asingle click or could with also be setup to be run every time the userlogs one click into the system. initiation NFS 4 Bulk Load Bulkimport/export TFN (toll-free numbers) for Numbers search and reservationrequests performed online for Search or thru an API. This would allow auser to main- tain list of TFNs they wish to search on a regular basis.NFS 4A Bulk The user will be able to search & reserve more Number than10 numbers in one request (10 numbers is the Search & current systemlimit). The new limit should be Reserve configurable. Depending upon thesize of the request and time it takes to process, the control of thesystem can be returned to the user and a notification of the completionof the request will be sent to the user upon request completion. NFS 5Scheduled Allow toll-free providers to schedule a specific Searchessearch to be performed on a regular basis at a date/ time desired by theuser without the user being logged in. Allow the user to either benotified via email or text if a number becomes available oralternatively to set a reserve option on the search and reserve thenumber automatically. NFS 5A One Click Allow a toll-free provider tosearch for a number, Activate reserve that number and activate thatnumber by assigning it a default customer record with a single usertransaction.

Number Administration: Additional User Functions Requirements - MinimalFeature Set MFS # Function Description MFS Update user Update contactinformation for end user of 5 information number or comments. MFS Updatenumber Update any of the information associated 5a information with thenumber that is reserved. MFS Find toll-free Have their ability for atoll-free service 5b service provider provider to determine theirnumbers and numbers & status status information utilizing a “toll-freeinformation Service provider dashboard of numbers” MFS Toll-free serviceToll-free service provider releases 6 provider release numbers, returnto spare. numbers MFS Toll-free service Transferring a number or 7provider number multiple numbers from transfer one toll-free serviceprovider to another.

Functional Descriptions Function Function Criteria Response CriteriaUpdate Update Information such Acknowledge changes Numbers as dates,contact info, were made and display MFS 5 & 5a etc. for number(s)updated information. associated with a toll- free service provider.Toll-free Toll-free service Acknowledge changes service providerreleases were made and display provider numbers, returning them updatedinformation. release to spare status numbers MFS 6 Toll-freeTransferring a number or Acknowledge changes service multiple numbersfrom were made and display provider one toll-free service updatedinformation. number transfer provider to another. MFS 7 Find toll-freeHave their ability for a Provide a toll-free service service toll-freeservice provider provider a method of provider to display their numbersdisplaying current up to date numbers & and status informationinformation about the status utilizing a “toll-free numbers theycontrol. information service provider The information should be MFS 5bdashboard of numbers” current with minimal latency.

As an example use case, to update Information such as dates, contactinfo, etc. for number(s) associated with a toll-free service providermay be provided as follows:

Use Case ID NA-UC-4 Use Case Name Change Reserve-Until Date/DisconnectUntil Date for a Number Use Case User requests that embodiments of thesystem change the date Description associated with an expected change ofstatus of a number. MFS Reference MFS 5a Actor(s) User (toll-freeservice provider or disclosed embodiment administrator) System(disclosed embodiment) Functional Category NA—Number AdministrationPre-Conditions The user has logged into the system In embodiments, thesystem has verified identity and permissions of the specific user and ofthe toll-free service provider as a whole Post-Conditions The specifieddate is changed Assumptions None identified Interface None identifiedConsiderations Primary Flow Step 1 The user requests one of thefollowing date changes: 1. Reserve-Until Date (for a RESERVED number) 2.Disconnect Until Date (for a Disconnected number) Step 2 In embodiments,the system verifies the identity and permissions of the user and thatthe specified number has the expected status. Step 3 In embodiments, thesystem verifies that the specified date is earlier than the existingdate. Step 4 In embodiments, the system changes the date when the numbercan change to its next status (in the absence of other user activity).Alternate Flows E1: At Step 2, embodiments of the system notify the userif the user does not have permission for the change or if the number isnot in the expected status. E2: At Step 3, if the specified date isbeyond the current value, an indication is provided to the user.

Use Case ID NA-UC-6 Use Case Name Change the Status of One or MoreNumbers Use Case Description The user requests that embodiments of thesystem change the status of one or more numbers to another allowedstatus MFS Reference MFS 5a; MFS 6 Actor(s) User (toll-free serviceprovider or disclosed embodiment administrator) System (disclosedembodiment) Functional Category NA—Number Administration Pre-ConditionsThe user has logged into the system In embodiments, the system hasverified identity and permissions of the specific user and of thetoll-free service provider as a whole Post-Conditions The specifiednumbers may be SPARE and may be reserved by any toll-free serviceprovider. Assumptions None identified Interface None identifiedConsiderations Primary Flow Step 1 The user requests that the status ofone or more numbers currently at one status be changed to anotherallowed status. Step 2 In embodiments, the system verifies the identityand permissions of the user Step 3 In embodiments, the system changesthe status of the numbers to the status. Alternate Flows E1: At Step 2,embodiments of the system notify the user if any of the specifiednumbers cannot change from the current status to a status.

Change the toll-free service provider information for one or morenumbers

Use Case ID NA-UC-7 Use Case Name Change the toll-free service providerinformation for one or more numbers Use Case Description User requeststhat embodiments of the system change the toll-free service providerUnit associated with a number or numbers in RESERVED, WORKING,DISCONNECTED, or TRANSITIONAL status MFS Reference MFS 7 Actor(s) User(toll-free service provider or disclosed embodiment administrator)System (disclosed embodiment) Functional Category NA—NumberAdministration Pre-Conditions The user has logged into the system Inembodiments, the system has verified identity and permissions of thespecific user and of the toll-free service provider as a wholePost-Conditions The specified toll-free service provider unit is changedfor all information associated with the number(s). Assumptions Noneidentified Interface None identified Considerations Primary Flow Step 1The user requests that the toll-free service provider Unit associatedwith a number or list of numbers that is currently controlled by aparticular toll-free service provider Unit be changed to a value. Step 2In embodiments, the system verifies the identity and permissions of theuser. Step 3 In embodiments, the system changes the toll-free serviceprovider Unit associated with the number(s). Alternate Flows E1: At Step2, embodiments of the system notifies the user if any specified numbersmay be not associated with the specified toll- free service providerunit. E2: At Step 2, embodiments of the system notifies the user if thespecified toll-free service provider unit is not valid. E3: At Step 2,embodiments of the system notifies the user if not permitted to requestthis change.

Number Administration: Additional User New Features

Additional features in the embodiments of the disclosed architecture maybe supported such as:

Additional User New Features Requirements - New Feature Set NFS #Function Description NFS 6 Spare This feature would allow for atoll-free Provider to Number submit requests to be notified if aspecific toll-free Availability number became available to be reserved.The Notification notification could be via an email notification, pop-upwhen they log in, or text notification. This could be a value addedservice with an additional charge, which would have tariff implicationsor just a service provided to all users.

There may be a number of tasks where a system administrator entersvalues for configuration parameters that control an aspect of systemfunctionality. A pre-condition is that the user is a systemadministrator with permissions to perform the specific administrativetask.

For each administrative use case, the following sequence of stepsapplies:

-   -   Step 1: The user enters values    -   Step 2: In embodiments, the system verifies the user input    -   Step 3: In embodiments, the system accepts the parameter values        and notifies the user of success

If the user input is not valid or some other condition preventssuccessful completion of the use case, embodiments of the system caninform the user of an error.

Requirements - Minimal Feature Set Current state MFS # or New FunctionDescription MFS 9 Current NPA & Open & Close NPA's and NPANXXs stateNPANXX (SMS Admin only). The pool of toll-free Mgmt. numbers iscontrolled by opening and closing toll-free NPAs and NPA-NXXs asdirected by the FCC. An NPA becomes Open when the numbers in the firstNXX within the NPA become available. An NPA becomes Closed when all theNXXs within the NPA may be Closed. MFS Current Reservation Set mandatedReservation and Alloca- 10 State and tion limits. In embodiments, thesystem Allocation can impose weekly limits for how many limits numbers atoll-free service provider entity can reserve. The available pool ofnumbers in SPARE status is divided into a portion that is allocated toeach toll- free service provider entity based on market share and aportion that is allo- cated equally among all toll-free service providerentities. (SMS Admin may be only allowed to set limits)

Functional Descriptions Function Function Criteria Response CriteriaNPA/NNX Open & Return information about the number Management Closeincluding status of the number, date/time of MFS9 NPA's and transitionto current status, toll-free service NPANXXs provider, Reserved UntilDate, Disconnect Until Date, Last Active Date depending uponpermissions. Reservation Set Tariff Return a number or list of numbersmeet- and mandated ing the search criteria (1 - configurable AllocationReservation max number) with status. limits and MFS 10 Allocation limits

An example use case to open a Toll-Free NPA and NXXs is as follows:

Use Case ID NA-UC-8 Use Case Name Open a Toll-Free NPA and NXXs Use CaseDescription Administrator opens a toll-free NPA and schedules opening ofone or more of the included NXXs. MFS Reference MFS 9 Actor(s) User(disclosed embodiment administrator) System (disclosed embodiment)Functional Category NA - Number Administration Pre-Conditions The userhas logged into the system In embodiments, the system has verifiedidentity and permissions of the specific user Post-Conditions Atoll-free NPA is added to the system. Numbers within the NXXs may beadded with an initial status of SPARE. Assumptions None identifiedInterface None identified Considerations Primary Flow Step 1 The userenters the three digit toll-free NPA to be opened. Step 2 Inembodiments, the system verifies that the NPA is a valid format and isnot currently open. Step 3 In embodiments, the system facilitates theuser to enter a date and time to schedule availability for each of theNXXs within the NPA that may be to be available for Search/Reserve.(Allocation controls can be specified for an NPA). Step 4 At theindicated date and time, embodiments of the system add the numbers inthe NXXs within the NPA with an initial status of SPARE and, for thefirst NXX that is made available in the NPA, marks the NPA as Open.Alternate Flows E1: At Step 2, embodiments of the system notify the userif the operation cannot complete due to system conditions or invalidinputs. E2: At Step 2, embodiments of the system notify the user if theuser does not have permission to execute the operation. E3: At Step 3,prior to reaching the specified date and time for opening of an NPA-NXX,the user can revise the date and time.

An example use case to Specify Number Reservation Limits is as follows:

Use Case ID NA-UC-9 Use Case Name Specify Number Reservation Limits UseCase Description In embodiments, the system administrator enters valuesto specify limits for percent of numbers in working status, count ofnumbers in RESERVED status, and percent of quantity of SPARE numbersthat a toll-free service provider entity is allowed to have in RESERVEDstatus. MFS Reference MFS 10 Actor(s) User (disclosed embodimentadministrator) System (disclosed embodiment) Functional Category NA -Number Administration Pre-Conditions The user has logged into the systemIn embodiments, the system has verified identity and permissions of thespecific user Post-Conditions The limits for percent of working numbers,count of working numbers, and percent of quantity of SPARE numbers thata toll- free service provider entity is allowed to have in RESERVEDstatus may be set. Assumptions None identified Interface None identifiedConsiderations Primary Flow Step 1 In embodiments, the systemadministrator enters values for the limits for percent of workingnumbers, count of reserved numbers, and percent of quantity of SPAREnumbers that a toll-free service provider is allowed to have in RESERVEDstatus. Step 2 In embodiments, the system verifies that the user inputand sets reservation limits. Step 3 In embodiments, the system notifiesthe user that the operation has completed. Alternate Flows E1: At Step2, embodiments of the system notify the user if the operation cannotcomplete due to system conditions or invalid inputs.

There may be additional features the embodiments of the disclosedarchitecture may include those that follow:

Additional User New Features Requirements - New Feature Set NFS #Function Description NFS 7 Enhanced Allow administrators to configuremost of the Number settings within the system without developmentAdministration changes. For example, the system may have aConfigurability limit of 10 TFNs returned from a search, which can beraised, but be configurable.

The Customer Record Administration (CRA) functions may be thoseconcerned with the input, validation, processing, and management of thetoll-free Customer Records (CRs). These may also include the processesby which embodiments of the system can upload relevant customer recorddata to the SCP toll-free databases in the public network, to enabletheir processing of SS7 toll-free database queries. Multi-number andmass change capabilities impacting CRs may also be included in CRAfunctionality.

The system's CRA functions support interactions with external users orsystems at the toll-free service provider to create and update thecustomer records. Additional interactions may be supported withtelecommunications carriers, to approve and/or be notified of CR updatesthat impact toll-free calling traffic in their respective networks,i.e., Carrier Notification and Approval (CNA) functions. Furtherinteractions may be supported with respect to the Local-ExchangeCarriers (LECs), including Incumbent Local-Exchange Carriers (ILECs),Competing Local-Exchange Carriers (CLECs), other IntraLATA carriers, andCCS network operators whose networks may be involved in terminating thetoll-free calls to the toll-free subscriber lines, and whose referencedata, and others can be used to validate certain call routinginstructions in the CRs. These latter capabilities may be referred to asIntraLATA Carrier Management (ICM) functions.

After a toll-free number (TFN) is reserved by a toll-free serviceprovider's toll-free service provider, it should be assigned to acustomer, and Customer Records (CRs) for that TFN may be created in thedisclosed embodiment, ultimately resulting in their downloading toService Control Points (SCPs) and the activation of service for thetoll-free subscriber (the customer) in the public network.

A CR contains both customer administrative data and call routinginformation for a customer's toll-free service. In particular, itdefines important aspects of the service, including the originating Areaof Service (AOS)—the geographic area from which calls to the toll-freenumber can be allowed, and the rules for translation of the toll-freenumber to call routing instructions. The call routing instructions mayinclude Destination Telephone Number(s) to which the toll-free calls maybe routed, the Carrier Identification Code (CICs) of telecommunicationscarriers whose networks may be used for IntraLATA and InterLATA calls,and call announcement treatment instructions for those cases in whichthe toll-free calls should not be routed further.

Each TFN may have several CRs associated with it, each containing thetoll-free service information to take effect at a given date and time(i.e., the Effective Date and Time of the CR). Once established, servicefor a customer may be modified or disconnected via subsequentfuture-dated CRs. Future pending CRs then replace the active CR whentheir effective dates and times may be reached.

At the effective date and time, a subset of the active CR's dataapplicable to toll-free database query processing is then downloaded tothe applicable SCPs in the public network, replacing (overwriting) anyprevious SCP customer record in effect for that TFN. Only one CR may bethe active CR in embodiments of the system reflecting the currenttoll-free service for a given TFN.

Customer Records can be considered either one of two types:

-   -   Regular Customer Records: Define the call routing for a        toll-free number and define the final toll-free-to-TN        destination number translations and what carrier can carry the        call. These may be simple or complex.    -   Turnaround Records: The originating toll-free calls may be        routed only via the TFNs and CICs. The routing is deferred to        the interexchange carrier networks, which may be responsible for        the final toll-free-to-TN destination number translations. The        term “turnaround routing” refers to the CR's instruction to the        SCP to “turn around” the TFN received in the SS7 query message        as the routing number (Destination Telephone Number) in the SCP        response, and the call is then routed onward to a carrier        network based on the TFN and obtained CIC. It is then the        responsibility of the carrier network to provide the final        translation to the POTS Destination Telephone Number for final        call routing. A TR can therefore contain only the TFN as a DTN        or intercept treatment in its call routing instructions, and        always without final routing to POTS destination numbers.

The disclosed embodiment administers 3 types of CRs:

-   -   Customer Records: each pertaining to a single TFN and containing        all of its service parameters;    -   Pointer Records: each pertaining to a single TFN but pointing to        a “reusable” “template record,” for much of its more complex        service data, which it may share with other TFNs, and    -   Template records: a record with service information that can be        referenced (shared) by multiple Customer Records and referenced        via Pointer Records (TFNs). Template records are valuable as a        single complex record can be created and then referenced by        multiple Pointer records. This saves space in the SCPs

Each type of CR may have a required common administrative data portion,and more complex, optionally populated Call Processing Record (CPR) dataportions for more complex routing scenarios. The CPR portion facilitatesa tree structure for the specification of variable (branching) callrouting logic based on various decision criteria (decision nodes) andthe resulting translations to destination numbers and carriers orannouncement treatments (action nodes). CPRs may be used within RegularCRs and Template Records.

Creation/Updating of Customer Records to Reflect Call Routing

Requirements - Minimal Feature Set Current state MFS # or New FunctionDescription MFS Current Customer There may be a number of Call Routing11 state Record - options in the current system. These can Routing beneeded and possibly options moving options forward. MFS Current CRUDIncludes user input, modification, query, 12 state (Create view,disconnect, copy, transfer, list, and Read Update status retrieval,includes scheduling in Delete) future. Customer Records MFS CurrentValidate Validate Customer Records against 13 state CRs reference data,syntax, and routing correctness MFS Current CR CRUD (Create Read UpdateDelete). 14 state Templates MFS Current Customer View all associated CRswith a TFN. 15 state Record Drill down into details for CRs View MFSCurrent Pointer CRUD (Create Read Update Delete). 16 state RecordsPointer Records may be tied to TFNs. MFS New Copy Create an easy way fortoll-free service 17 CR/Template providers to create records based on(clone & existing records modify)

In embodiments, the platform may include a customer record templatebuilder. The process and tools currently available for building acomplex customer record may be single threaded and cumbersome. Inaddition, a tool may be required that works intelligently with the userto interpret natural language input to produce a complex customer recordwhile using existing user records and usage data to prepopulateinformation for the user. This tool may be intuitive such that a firsttime user could build a complex record without hours of training.

The Customer Record Template Builder (CRTB) can allow toll-freeproviders to easily build a complex customer record template using asimple UI that can then let that record be designated at the defaultcustomer record. A toll-free provider can build multiple complexcustomer record templates for their use and to define a record as thedefault customer record, allowing the user to select the default with asingle click, thus significantly reducing their work effort.

The CRTB can lead the user thru both the initial customer datapopulation (known as the CAD portion) but also the call routing logic(known as the CPR portion) utilizing a simple UI using a decision treelogic structure with defined data nodes. Based upon the decisions atthose nodes the UI can drive down a branch to a new decision nodeultimately driving the customer record decision logic to the lowestlevel.

A decision tree can represent a series of decision points. Each decisionpoint is called a node and off each node is one of more branches. Thepoint at which there may be no more decisions to be made is called aleaf and is used as the “end point” of a branching structure. See FIG. 3for a generic visualization of this structure.

The CAD portion of the CRTB can logically lead the user to populate theexample following pieces of information:

-   -   Administrative data about the toll-free customer    -   Toll-free number    -   Effective date and time    -   Control toll-free provider identifier    -   End customer name    -   End customer address    -   Area Of Service (AOS),    -   List of destination telephone number(s)

Carrier Identification Codes (CICs) for IntraLATA and InterLATA traffic

The complex customer record (CPR) decision nodes supported by the may beas follows:

-   -   Originating State    -   Originating NPA    -   Originating LATA    -   Originating POTS NXX    -   Originating POTS NPANXX    -   Originating POTS number    -   Specific date    -   Day(s) of the week    -   Time-of-day range    -   Percent load share, which may be used to automatically direct        different percentages of processed queries (calls) to different        branches below the node.

The “leaves” supported by the data model at the ends of a given branchmay include:

-   -   Destination Telephone Number;    -   Carrier; and    -   Announcement Treatment.

A simple example of Customer Record routing would be as in FIG. 4.

In this relatively simple example, starting from the left-most branchedpath, the 3 decision paths corresponding to the decision trees branchedpaths can be represented as:

-   -   Area Code=732, NXX={699,494}, Carrier=ATX-0288,        Tel#=800-234-5678    -   Area Code=732, NXX=Other, Carrier=MCI-0222, Tel#=800-234-5678    -   Area Code=Other, NXX=<null>, Carrier=MCI-0222,        Tel#=800-234-5678.

The CRTB toll can be built in such a manner to allow a customer workshis/her way down the decision tree and anticipate/pre-populateinformation based upon the information already provided in this build oralso information provided in previous customer record entries. Once adefault customer record template is built, the system can build thecapability to invoke this template when creating a customer record for anew number, thus reducing the time and effort for a customer record tobe built.

The CPR portion of the CR may provide a mechanism for users to specifybranching call routing and call treatment logic involving multipledestination numbers and multiple carriers based on one or more decisioncriteria. The decision criteria include aspects of the toll-free call,such as its originating geographic area (the originating state, CCSnetwork, NPA, LATA, NPANXX etc.) to be mapped by the SCP, based on thecalling party number and other attributes of the query), and the date,time-of-day and day-of week of the query, among other variables.

The CPR is linked to the CAD portion of a regular customer record by thereferenced TFN and the Effective Date and Time. The CPR portion is alsoused in Template Records. When used in a Template record, the CPRportion is linked to the Template Record by the referenced Template Nameand Effective Date and Time in the equivalent TAD portion of theTemplate Record.

The logical branch points of the CPR decision tree may be specifiedwithin one or more “decision nodes” along each traversable branchedpath. The resulting call processing actions, including the translationof the toll-free number to specific destination numbers, call routingvia specific carriers, or the announcement treatment for non-routedcalls may be specified in “action nodes” at the ends of each path. Eachpath logically begins at the dialed toll-free number being translated,progresses through one or more decision nodes that define the callcriteria, and ends at one or more action nodes. Each possible paththrough the decision tree from root to the end of each branched path maybe conceived of as a “row” in a logical data table or matrix. Each rowmay contain numerous decision nodes defining the set of criteria to bematched by the call attributes for a call routing case (path) and mayend with one or two action nodes.

The CPR decision nodes supported by the data model according to oneembodiment can include one or more of the following:

-   -   Originating State (STATE)    -   Originating NPA (AREA CODE)    -   Originating LATA (LATA)    -   Originating POTS NXX (NXX)    -   Originating POTS NPANXX (6-DIGIT#)    -   Originating POTS number (10-DIGIT#)    -   Specific date (DATE)    -   Day(s) of the week (DAY)    -   Time-of-day range (TIMES)    -   Binary Switch (SWITCH)—an on-or-off binary switch, which may be        used to manually redirect call processing onto an alternate        branched path.    -   Percent load share (PERCENT), which may be used to automatically        direct different percentages of processed queries (calls) to        different branches of the node.

The action nodes supported by the data model according to one embodimentat the ends of a given branch can include:

-   -   Destination Telephone Number (TEL#)    -   Carrier (CARRIER)    -   Announcement Treatment (ANNOUNCE)    -   Go-To (GOTO) a pointer to another decision tree (CPR subsection)        within the CPR, which defines further (refining) decision        criteria.

Logically, decision nodes can have more than one argument for theirincluded decision criteria (e.g., a list of more than one originatingNPA, or more than 1 day of the week), and there may be multiple decisionnodes used in combination to define each branched path (row). Eachaction node may have, at most, one outcome in the call routing logic.Null (empty) values for a decision node within a row convey its decisioncriteria is not to be part of the matched criteria defining the decisioncase for that row (i.e., that any value for that call parameter cansuffice). A conceptual view of a CPR routing tree example is illustratedin FIG. 3.

Sample of Main Flow Customer Record Use Cases

This section has a sample of some of the many use cases that may becovered in this functionality. It does not represent every possible usecase and should be a base for determining CRA functionality.

An example use case for Create a New CR for a Reserved toll-free number(New Service Connect) is as follows:

Use Case ID CR-UC-1 Use Case Name Create a New CR for a Reservedtoll-free number (New Service Connect) Use Case The user creates aregular or pointer customer record in Description embodiments of thesystem to activate service for a given RESERVED toll-free number, eitherimmediately, or at a future effective date and time. The user may createa regular customer record or a pointer record referencing an existingtemplate record. MFS Reference MFS 11; MFS 12 Actor(s) User (toll-freeservice provider or administrator ) System (disclosed embodiment)Functional Category CR - Customer Record Administration Assumptions andIn embodiments, the system has verified the identity and Pre-Conditionspermissions of the User or has established the necessary API interfaceconnectivity. The toll-free number is in the RESERVED state and isreserved by the requesting toll-free service provider unit. No CRs forthe TFN yet exist. If a pointer record is being defined, it may point toan existing active template record. Post-Conditions A CR for thetoll-free number with a future or current effective date and time iscreated and stored in embodiments of the system with PENDING status forfuture or immediate activation in the network. (Its subsequent state inembodiments of the system can depend upon whether its final validationand carrier approval processing has completed successfully.) The numberstatus is changed to “ASSIGNED” when the first valid CR for the TFN issuccessfully created. Interface Human User Interface Considerations APIinterface (REQ/RSP-CRA or REQ/RSP-CRC) Primary Flow 1. The user entersthe toll-free number, a requested future effective date and time (or NOWfor an immediate activation), all mandatory parameters, and any optionalparameters for the CR's CAD portion (Regular CR) or PAD portion (PointerRecord). 2. For regular CRs, the user may also populate a LAD portion ofthe CR specifying TFN-specific labels for use in CPR decision and actionnodes. 3. For regular CRs, the user optionally populates a CPR portionto specify any complex call routing logic, including any LAD labelsdefined in the LAD portion for decision and action nodes. 4. The usersubmits the completed CR, including all of its applicable component dataportions to embodiments of the system for validation and processing. 5.In embodiments, the system validates the CR is correct and complete, perCR data requirements and per CR validations, and posts the validated CRto the TFMP database with an initial status of PENDING. Alternate FlowsE1: In Step 1, the TFN was not valid or reserved by the user's toll-freeservice provider, creation of the CR is not allowed, and an errorindication is returned to the user. E2: In Step 1, a CR with the TFN andsame effective date and time already exists, so creation of a CR withthe same key data is not allowed, and an error indication is returned tothe user. E3: In Step 4, the CR data in the CAD (or PAD), LAD, or CPRportions may be invalid, missing, inconsistent, or incomplete,embodiments of the system rejects the CR as invalid. The CR enters theINVALID state and is stored in the database. It may be corrected(modified) and resubmitted in a separate update request. In all cases,further processing is stopped.

An example use case for Query/Retrieve/View an Existing CR is asfollows:

Use Case ID CR-UC-2 Use Case Name Query/Retrieve/View an Existing CR UseCase The user retrieves an existing CR (regular CR or pointer record)Description for a given TFN and Effective Date and Time for the purposeof viewing/reading its content. MFS Reference MFS 15 Actor(s) User(toll-free service provider, Customer, Agent, Carrier, or administrator)System (disclosed embodiment) Functional Category CR - Customer RecordAdministration Assumptions and In embodiments, the system has verifiedthe identity and Pre-Conditions permissions of the user or hasestablished the necessary API interface connectivity. The CR may existin the database. The user may be from the CR' s Control toll-freeservice provider entity, TFMP administration, or an involved routingcarrier on the CR, or the CR' s customer (or their agent) with onlineaccess. Post-Conditions The retrieved CR is unchanged. Its contents maybe displayed or returned to the user or external user system, subject toCR access restrictions, with only the authorized information provided ordisplayed. Interface Human User Interface Considerations API interface(REQ/RSP-CRV) Primary Flow 1. The user specifies or selects thetoll-free number, and the specific Effective Date and Time of the CR tobe retrieved. 2. In embodiments, the system retrieves the indicatedcustomer record, facilitates the user to view appropriate data (HUIcase), or sends the appropriate data to the requesting external usersystem (API case). (The Control toll-free service provider, customer,agent, and TFMP administration can retrieve/view all fields. Involvedcarriers and their associated toll-free service providers may view onlythose portions of the record relevant to their role, including their ownCICs and the Destination Telephone Numbers to which the TFN routes viatheir CICs. Non- involved toll-free service providers can view only theTFN, Effective Date/Time, Control toll-free service provider, CR Status,and Approval Status.) Refer to functional requirements concerningreturned information and restrictions for this use case. Alternate FlowsE1: In Step 1, no CR with the TFN and effective date and time exists, sothe record cannot be retrieved. A record not found indication or erroris returned to the user. E2: In Step 2, a requesting user is not fromone of the specified types of entities that may be allowed to access CRsfor the TFN, and therefore is denied access to the record. An errornotification to this effect should be returned. In either case, furtherprocessing is stopped.

An example use case to Create a New CR (Update Active or Pendingtoll-free service) is as follows:

Use Case ID CR-UC-3 Use Case Name Create a New CR (Update Active orPending Toll-Free Service) Use Case The user creates a CR for a TFN(regular CR or PR) for which an Description ACTIVE record and/or otherfuture PENDING records for that TFN already exist in the database. TheCR can replace or become the active record at the future effective dateand time. Relative to any earlier-effective record or the active recordfor the TFN, the differences in the CR' s parameters may include, inRegular CRs, for example (but may be not limited to): 1. The addition ofDestination Numbers and their related destination parameters. 2.Expanding or changing the Area of Service (AOS) 3. Changing otheradministrative parameters on the CR. 4. Adding a LAD portion, or addingor removing labels and argument lists from/to the LAD. 5. Adding orremoving a CPR portion or a CPR section. 6. Changing the call routing(decision nodes, DNs, carriers, or announcement treatments in any of theCPR table rows defining the CPR tree). MFS Reference MFS 11; MFS 12Actor(s) User (toll-free service provider or administrator) System(disclosed embodiment) Functional Category CR - Customer RecordAdministration Assumptions and In embodiments, the system verifies theidentity and Pre-Conditions permissions of the user or has establishedthe necessary API interface connectivity. An ACTIVE CR or one or morePENDING CRs already exist in the database for the TFN. No other PENDINGCRs exist for that TFN with the same effective date and time. The usermay be from the TFN's Control toll-free service provider entity or theadministration, or may otherwise have update permission for the controltoll-free service provider's CRs. Post-Conditions A CR for the TFN andwith the effective date and time and with the updated CR data attributescan be created with an initial status of PENDING. (Its subsequent statein embodiments of the system and in the network can depend upon whetherits validation and carrier approval processing has proceeded.) InterfaceHuman User Interface Considerations API interface (REQ/RSP-CRA orREQ/RSP-CRC) Primary Flow 1. The user specifies the TFN, the requestedeffective date and time (NOW for immediate updates and a futureeffective date and time for future updates), all mandatory parameters,and any optional parameters for the CR's CAD or PAD portion. 2. For aregular CR, the user optionally populates a LAD portion of the CRspecifying TFN-specific labels for use in CPR decision nodes. 3. Forregular CRs, the user optionally populates a CPR portion to specify anycomplex call routing logic, including any LAD labels for decision andaction nodes. 4. The user submits the completed CR, including all of itscomponent portions to embodiments of the system for validation andprocessing. 5. In embodiments, the system validates the CR is correctand complete, per CR data requirements and per CR validations, and poststhe validated CR to the database with an initial status of PENDING(future) or SENDING (immediate). Alternate Flows E1: In Step 1, the userdoes not have update permission for the TFN. Creation of the CR is notallowed, and an error indication returned to the user. E2: In Step 1, aCR with the TFN and same effective date and time already exists, socreation of a CR with the same key data is not allowed, and an errorindication is returned to the user. E3: In Step 5, the CR data in theCAD (or PAD), LAD, or CPR portions may be invalid, missing, inconsistentor incomplete, and in embodiments, the system rejects the CR as invalidand returns an error response to the user. The CR enters the INVALIDstate and may be corrected (modified) and resubmitted as a subsequentupdate. In all cases, further processing is stropped.

An example use case to Delete an Existing (Future) CR is as follows:

Use Case ID CR-UC-4 Use Case Name Delete an Existing (Future) CR UseCase The user deletes an existing CR (Regular CR or PR) with a givenDescription TFN and future Effective Date and Time. MFS Reference MFS 12Actor(s) User (toll-free service provider or administrator) System(disclosed embodiment) Functional Category CR - Customer RecordAdministration Assumptions and In embodiments, the system verifies theidentity and Pre-Conditions permissions of the user or has establishedthe necessary API interface connectivity. The CR may exist in thedatabase. The CR' s current status may be one of PENDING, INVALID, MYCHECK, or HOLD so that its effective date and time is in the future.(The ACTIVE record may not be deleted.). The user may be from the TFN'sControl toll-free service provider entity or the administration, or mayotherwise have update permission for the control toll-free serviceprovider's CRs. Post-Conditions The existing record is deleted from thedatabase. Interface Human User Interface Considerations API interface(REQ/RSP-CRA or REQ/RSP-CRC) Primary Flow 1. The user specifies orselects the toll-free number, and the specific effective date and timeof the CR to be deleted. 2. In embodiments, the system deletes thefuture CR and returns a confirmation of the action to the user.Alternate Flows E1: In Step 1, no CR with the TFN and Effective Date andTime exists, so the record cannot be deleted. A record not foundindication or error is returned to the user. E2: In Step 1, if the userspecifies a CR with a past effective date and time (ACTIVE, FAILED, OLD,SENDING, or HOLD), the deletion action may not be permitted and an errorindication may be returned. Only the system's database purge process maybe permitted to delete CRs with past EDTs. E3: In Step 1, the requestinguser is not from the Control toll-free service provider entity orAdministration, or does not otherwise have update permission for the CR,so the user is not authorized to delete the record. In all error cases,an appropriate error indication is returned on the requesting interfaceand further processing is stopped.

An example use case for Query/View the List of CRs for a given TFN is asfollows:

Use Case ID CR-UC-5 Use Case Name Query/View the List of CRs for a GivenTFN Use Case The user selects or specifies a TFN and retrieves a list ofall CRs Description (regular or PRs) that exist in the database for thatTFN (aka CR Status Query). MFS Reference MFS 15 Actor(s) User (toll-freeservice provider or administrator) System (disclosed embodiment)Functional Category CR - Customer Record Administration Assumptions andIn embodiments, the system verifies the identity and permissionsPre-Conditions of the user or has established the necessary APIinterface connectivity. Post-Conditions A list of CRs for the specifiedTFN 15 returned to the user, with their effective dates and times and CRstatus values. No information is changed in the system. Interface HumanUser Interface Considerations API Interface (REQ/RSP-CRQ) PrimaryFlow 1. The user specifies or selects the toll-free number for the CRlist to be retrieved and submits the request to the system. 2. Inembodiments, the system retrieves the information, generates the CRlist, and presents it to the user. The response may include: theretrieved TFN the Control toll-free service provider for the TFN the CRlist Within the CR list, individual CRs may be sorted in ascending orderby effective date, i.e., with the oldest record at the top and latereffective-dated/timed records. The list may include for each CR: a. TheEffective Date and Time b. The CR Order Type c. The CR Status d. The CRCarrier-Approval Status e. Indicators conveying the presence of CRcomponent data portions (CAD or PAD, CPR, and LAD) f. A link or othermechanism by which the user may select the individual CR for retrievaland/or subsequent actions. (HUI case only) Additional requirementsconcerning the CR list response may be specified in the functionalrequirements. Alternate Flows E1: At Step 1, no CRs exist in thedatabase for the specified TFN. E2: At Step 1, embodiments of the systemdetermine the user is not authorized to access the CR list for the TFN.In either case an appropriate not-found or error indication is returnedon the user interface and processing is stopped.

An example use case for Disconnect Toll-Free Service is as follows:

Use Case ID CR-UC-6 Use Case Name Disconnect Toll-Free Service Use CaseThe user establishes a future or immediate disconnect date for aDescription currently working TFN by populating the followingDisconnect- related parameters in a PENDING disconnect CR with a futureeffective date and time: Disconnect Referral Option End-Intercept Date(This may be regarded as a special case of CR-UC-3. Create a New(Future) CR (Update Toll-Free Service), in which a CR for a working orassigned number can be created to populate the disconnect-relatedparameters and becomes a “Disconnect record.”) MFS Reference MFS 11; MFS12 Actor(s) User (toll-free service provider or administrator) System(disclosed embodiment) Functional Category CR - Customer RecordAdministration Assumptions and In embodiments, the system has verifiedthe identity and Pre-Conditions permissions of the user or hasestablished the necessary API interface connectivity. The current NumberStatus is WORKING or ASSIGNED, and there is either an ACTIVE CR or oneor more future PENDING CRs for the TFN in the database. The user may befrom the TFN's Control toll-free service provider entity or theadministration, or may otherwise have update permission for the controltoll-free service provider's CRs. In the ACTIVE CR or latest future CR,none of the disconnect-related parameters may be yet populated.Post-Conditions A CR for the TFN, and with the effective date and timeand with populated disconnect-related CR parameters can be created inembodiments of the system with an initial status of PENDING. (At theeffective date and time, the CR status can become DISCONNECT. At the EndIntercept Date it can be deleted from the SCPs and transition to CRstatus OLD in the system.) Interface Human User Interface ConsiderationsAPI interface (REQ/RSP-CRA or REQ/RSP-CRC) Primary Flow 1. The userspecifies or selects the TFN to be disconnected and the latest effectivedated CR. 2. In embodiments, the system retrieves the CR and presentsthe CR view to the user. (HUI case only) 3. The user populates theeffective date and time (either “now” or in the future) and thefollowing disconnect-related parameters in the CR (assumed to bepreviously null or blank per pre- condition): Disconnect Referral Optionis changed from blank (null/empty) to “Yes (with referral)” or “No(without referral)” The End-Intercept Date is populated and is greaterthan or equal to the effective date and time (when the End- InterceptDate is equal to the Effective Date the CR can be treated as animmediate disconnect without an intercept period.) 4. The user submitsthe CR update as a “disconnect request” with a future effective date andtime or “now” for an immediate disconnect. 5. In embodiments, the systemvalidates the TFN, user's toll-free service provider, and aboveDisconnect parameters, per procedures described in Section 4.5.2.1.8,and posts the validated CR to the database with an initial status of“PENDING. Subsequent to this interaction: If the record is deemed validat the intended effective date and time it goes active in the networkwith DISCONNECT status and applies the specified disconnect referraloption, until the end-intercept date is reached. At the end interceptdate, the CR is deleted from the SCPs. (If the End-Intercept Date is thesame as the Effective Date and Time on the CR, the CR is deletedimmediately from the SCP when the Effective Date and time is reached.)Alternate Flows E1: At Step 1, the user's toll-free service providerdoes not match the Control toll-free service provider entity for theTFN, or does not otherwise have update permission, such that access ofthe target CR is not allowed to issue the disconnect request. E2: Atstep 1, no active CR or future CRs with the effective date and timeexist in the database for the TFN. E3: At Step 5, the specifiedEnd-Intercept Date is earlier than the current date or more than <m>months later than the effective date, and is considered invalid. (Thelimit m is administrator- configurable with a default of 4 months.) Inthese cases an appropriate error indication can be returned to the userinterface and further processing stops.

An example use case to Create a New Template Record is as follows:

Use Case ID CR-UC-7 Use Case Name Create a New Template Record (TR) UseCase The user creates a template record (TR) in embodiments of theDescription system to establish or update a routing template that maythen be referenced by multiple PRs, either immediately, or at a futureeffective date and time. MFS Reference MFS 14 Actor(s) User (toll-freeservice provider or administrator) System (disclosed embodiment)Functional Category CR - Customer Record Administration Assumptions andIn embodiments, the system has verified the identity and Pre-Conditionspermissions of the user or has established the necessary API interfaceconnectivity. No TR with the requested Template Name and Effective Dateand Time yet exist. Post-Conditions A TR with the given Template Nameand with the current or future Effective Date and Time is created andstored in embodiments of the system with PENDING status for futureactivation or SENDING status for immediate activation in the network.(Its subsequent state in embodiments of the system can depend uponwhether its validation processing has completed successfully.) InterfaceHuman User Interface Considerations API interface (REQ/RSP-TRC) PrimaryFlow 1. The user enters the existing Template Name, a requested futureEffective Date and Time (or NOW for an immediate activation), allmandatory parameters, and any optional parameters for the TR' s TADportion. 2. The user may also populate a LAD portion of the TRspecifying record-specific labels for use in CPR decision and actionnodes. 3. The user optionally populates a CPR portion to specify anycomplex call routing logic, including any LAD labels defined in the LADportion for decision and action nodes. Note that all DTNs in the CPR maybe either the TFN or the special argument “#DIAL” representing the TFN,i.e., the TR may specify turnaround routing per SCP limitations on theTR DTNs. 4. The user submits the completed TR, including all of itsapplicable component data portions to embodiments of the system forvalidation and processing. 5. In embodiments, the system validates thatthe CR is correct and complete, per TR Data Requirements specified inSections 4.3.2.9 through 4.3.2.12, and per TR validations specifiedwithin Section 4.5.2.2. It generated a numeric Template ID and posts thevalidated TR to the database with an initial status of PENDING.Alternate Flows E1: In Step 1, the user does not have permission tocreate a TR, and the request is rejected with an error indicationreturned to the user. E2: In Step 1, a CR with the same Template Nameand Effective Date and time already exists, so creation of a TR with thesame key data is not allowed, and an error indication is returned to theuser. E3: In Step 5, the TR data in its TAD LAD, or CPR portions may beinvalid, missing, inconsistent, or incomplete, embodiments of the systemrejects the TR as invalid. The TR enters the INVALID state and is storedin the database. It may be corrected (modified) and resubmitted in aseparate update request. In all cases, further processing is stopped.

An example use case to Convert a Regular Customer Record to a PointerRecord is as follows:

Use Case ID CR-UC-8 Use Case Name Convert a Regular Customer Record to aPointer Record Use Case The user converts a regular CR to a PointerRecord Description MFS Reference MFS 16 Actor(s) User (toll-free serviceprovider or administrator) System (disclosed embodiment) FunctionalCategory CR - Customer Record Administration Assumptions and Inembodiments, the system has verified the identity and Pre-Conditionspermissions of the user. The selected (source) regular CR already existsin the database. If it's Effective Date and Time (EDT) is not beingchanged for the PR being created (it is to be converted “in place”),then its EDT may be in the future and so it may not be an OLD, ACTIVE,SENDING, or DISCONNECT record. If the selected source regular CR hasdifferent Effective Date. A corresponding Template Record to bereferenced by the PR already exists and is ACTIVE in the network and hasthe same toll-free service provider entity as the control toll-freeservice provider of the source regular CR. The user's toll-free serviceprovider may be part of the Control toll-free service provider entity ofthe TFN for both the converted CR and the Template Record to bereferenced in the PAD, or administration, or the user may otherwise haveupdate permission for the control toll-free service provider's CRs.Post-Conditions The PR is created in PENDING status and contains thesubset of CAD parameter values applicable to a PAD data portion of thePR. The prior regular CR is either replaced by the CR (if it has thesame future EDT), or is retained in the database unaffected. InterfaceHuman User Interface Considerations API Interface (REQ-CRC) PrimaryFlow 1. The user specifies or selects the TFN and Effective Date andTime of the existing regular CR to be converted to a PR, the TemplateName of the Template Record to be referenced by the PR, and (optionally)a future Effective Date and Time for the PR. (If not specified,embodiments of the system may retain the future date and time of thesource regular CR.) 2. The user submits the request for the conversionaction. 3. In embodiments, the system initially validates that therequesting user is from the Control toll-free service provider of theTFN for the record being converted, or the user otherwise has updatepermission, that the regular CR exists in the database and that thereferenced Template Record (TR) exists in the ACTIVE state in thedatabase and its Control toll- free service provider entity code matchesthat of the CR being converted. If the source regular CR' s EDT is inthe past it ensures a user-entered EDT is specified and is in thefuture. 4. In embodiments, the system performs the conversion action. Itcopies applicable parameters from the source CR' s CAD to the CR' s PAD,referencing the indicated Template ID, and removes any CPR or LAD dataportions. In embodiments, the system facilitates only the TFN or thespecial argument #DIAL on the Destination Telephone Number List on theCAD to be copied to the PAD, or if neither may be on the CAD, it cansubstitute the TFN for the DTNs on the Destination List. 5. Inembodiments, the system validates the PR in combination with itsreferenced Template Record is correct and complete as of the EffectiveDate and Time, per CR Data Requirements and per CR ValidationRequirements. 6. In embodiments, the system posts the PR to the databasewith an initial status of PENDING. The original regular CR if previouslyPENDING, no longer exists in the database. Subsequent to thisinteraction, the newly created PENDING PR is activated at the newEffective Date and Time, replacing the prior ACTIVE CR, whichtransitions to OLD status. Alternate Flows E1: In Step 1, the source CRdoes not exist, so the record cannot be retrieved and converted. Arecord not found indication or error is returned to the user andprocessing stops. E2: In Step 3, the initial validation conditions maybe not met, the conversion action is rejected, an error response isreturned to the user, and processing stops. E3: In Step 5, if theresulting PR/TR is found to be invalid, an error indication is returnedto the user. In exception cases E2 and E3 above, the original regular CRremains in the database and is not removed/replaced by a valid PR.

There may be additional features the embodiments of the disclosedarchitecture may support such as the examples that follow.

Customer Record Creation/Updating New Features Requirements-New FeatureSet NFS # Function Description NFS 8 Change call With the expectedmovement from a PSTN based routing telephone routing to an IP basedstandard some- anchoring time in the future, it is important to buildthe from PSTN ability to utilize an E64 URI routing platform to E64 URIusing SIP protocol into disclosed embodiments standard while stillsupporting the current PSTN routing approach. NFS 9 Dynamic Create adecision tree to assist the toll-free decision provider in creating acomplex record by leading tree logic the user to routing decisions basedupon infor- for building mation already provided. complex customerrecords. NFS 10 Default Allow the toll-free Provider the ability tocreate a Customer default customer record that can be activated Recordagainst newly reserved numbers. This functional- ity should provide theuser more capabilities than they currently have with the Templatefunctional- ity. NFS 11 Enhanced Provide the toll-free provideradditional decision Route points for routing decisions. Currentlycomplex Manage- routing decisions can be made on the following ment datapoints: Originating State (STATE) Originating NPA (AREA CODE)Originating LATA (LATA) Originating POTS NXX (NXX) Originating POTSNPANXX (6-DIGIT#) Originating POTS number (10-DIGIT#) Specific date(DATE) Day(s) of the week (DAY) Time-of-day range (TIMES) There is a lotof additional metadata available to provide routing instructions on,especially given the future with IP routing. These metadata points canbe defined at design. NFS 12 Automated The system may enable thetransfer of call routing Template information in the same action as theTFN transfer Data if that information is documented via a TemplateTransfer when a toll-free provider is transferring a number to adifferent toll-free provider. Today, this is a multi-step process. NFS-Template The user will have a simplified approach to the 12A Recordcreation of complex Template records using a Wizard Wizard like approachwith “Suggestive” intelligence from template repository.

Customer Record Administration: Record Processing/SCP Downloads

Requirements-Minimal Feature Set Current state MFS # or New FunctionDescription MFS Current Customer In embodiments, the system may main- 18state Record tain internal business logic for tracking Processing CRstatus. See the CRA Status and flow in the Overview section. MFS CurrentDownload Activation at EDT (Effective Date & 19 state Records Time). Asubset of the active CR's data to SCPs (defined in the TM-798 format)appli- cable to toll-free database query processing is then downloadedto the applicable SCPs in the public network, replacing (overwriting)any previous SCP customer record in effect for that TFN. Only one CR maybe the active CR in embodiments of the system reflecting the currenttoll-free service for a given TFN. MFS Current Initial DB When a SCP isadded to the CCS 20 state load to SCP network, the CRs may be loaded inbulk as an “initial load.” MFS Current Customer A user may initiate theresend of a CR to 21 state Record all or some pertinent SCPs in the CR'sResend AOS (area of service). CR resends can be initiated by the CR'sControl toll-free service provider, the SCP O/O's for any CRs at theirSCPs, and administration, subject to user security settings.

The Customer Record (CR) Status indicates the status of the CustomerRecord with respect to its validation in embodiments of the system andits activation status at the SCPs. The CR Status is automaticallygenerated by the current system. Because these states, as used by thelegacy system, may be well known to the user community and may beregarded as fundamental to CR processing, they may be preserved as muchas possible in the next generation system.

Customer Record Status Definitions Status Definition Saved The record isstored in embodiments of the system but is not yet validated, because ithas not yet been submitted for valid- ation and posting by the userafter it was created or modified. This state applies to CRs that may notbe completely built or previously SAVED or PENDING CRs that have beencopied and/or modified from another CR but not submitted. Pending Therecord has passed all validations and has a future Effec- tive Date andTime. A PENDING record can be accessed and modified. Records specifiedfor immediate activation (with an Effective Date and Time of “now” mayalso pass through the PENDING state before they may be subject toactivation processing and enter the SENDING state. Sending The record isbeing sent to all pertinent SCPs, but not all of those SCPs haveresponded with an OK status, meaning the CR may be activated in none orsome, but less than all SCPs. Sending records cannot be modified. (Anychanges to the customer's service for the toll-free number may be madeby creating a future customer record, or “copying forward” the latest ofthe SENDING or ACTIVE customer records to a future effective date andtime and then modifying it.) (When all the SCPs subsequently respondwith an OK acceptance indication, the status can then transition toACTIVE or DISCONNECT.) Active The one record for the TFN that iscurrently working in all pertinent SCPs. Only one active record canexist for a TFN at a given time. An active record cannot be modified.(Any changes to the customer's service for the toll-free number may bemade by creating a customer record, or “copying forward” the latest ofthe SENDING or ACTIVE customer records to a future effective date andtime and then modifying it.) Old A record whose status was previouslyACTIVE, DISCONNECT, or SENDING, but which has since been replaced byanother ACTIVE, DISCONNECT, or SENDING record with a later effectivedate and time, or has since been deleted at the SCPs due to servicedisconnection. Previously DISCONNECT records transition to OLD aftertheir Disconnect End Intercept Date has been reached and they may bedeleted from the SCPs. Previous ACTIVE records also transition to OLD ifthey may be immediately disconnected without intercept and may bedeleted from the SCPs. OLD records cannot be modified. They may betemporarily maintained in the TFMP database for reference or copying forservice rollback or recovery, and may be periodically purged from theTFMP database. Invalid The record did not pass validations after beingsubmitted by the user and its effective date and time has not yet beenreached. It remains in the database but cannot be sent to the SCPsif/when its effective date and time may be reached. Invalid records maybe modified and resubmitted. Dis- Normal service for the TFN has beendiscontinued and all connect callers may be receiving disconnectednumber or referral number announcements. This state is reached when aPENDING record with a populated Disconnect Intercept Indicator reachesits Effective Date and Time and is then successfully activated at allpertinent SCPs (The record in this state has a specified DisconnectIntercept End Date later than the Effective Date and Time.) Only onerecord for a given TFN can be in the DISCONNECT state. Much A previouslyvalidated and pending record may be revalidated Check as its data may nolonger be appropriate since other pending CRs for the TFN with earlieror later effective dates and times have been defined (inserted) in theactivation sequence. Failed The record has reached its Effective Dateand Time, but has not been successfully activated at any SCP because itremained SAVED, INVALID, MAY CHECK, or PENDING without required carrierapproval at that time, or was in the SENDING state and has been rejectedby all SCPs to which it was sent. Hold The record has been placed onhold by request of the customer or the Control toll-free serviceprovider, as indicated by the Hold Indicator in its CAD or PAD portionset to “Yes.” A CR in the HOLD state is retained in the disclosedembodiment, but is not released (sent) to the SCPs at its Effective Dateand Time, even if it is otherwise valid and approved. The HOLD statusapplies to regular CRs and Pointer Records, but not to Template Records.HOLD status facilitates users to indefinitely delay activation of a CRif there is some problem with other coordinated aspects of the toll-freesubscriber service, such as the terminating lines or call centers notbeing ready to accommodate the service. CR database clean-up proceduresdescribed in Section 4.14.2.4 can remove HOLD records from embodi- mentsof the system after a suitable administrator-defined interval (from 1-30days) has passed beyond their Effective Dates and Times. Refer to thatsection for details. (State transitions from database clean-upprocedures may be not reflected in the mainline status transitiondiagrams.)

With reference to FIGS. 41 and 42, customer record state diagrams foractivation and output 4100, 4200, refer to the processes by which CRscan be translated and transmitted to the appropriate SCPs after they maybe validated and receive any necessary carrier approvals through variousnodes such as invalid, saved, hold, pending, and must check. This canoccur when their Effective Dates and Times may be reached, orimmediately in the case of CRs for which and Effective Date and Time of“now” has been specified by the user at input, and no carrier approvalsmay be required. Note that the standard processing of CR output(download) to SCPs is done via TM-798 data links.

In embodiments, the system may translate the information in the Customerrecord (either a CR, a TR (template record), or a PR (Pointer Record))to the TM-798 format for transmission to the SCPs.

The CR SCP Resend function may be used to resend a single CR to specificSCPs and use the SCP's CR update confirmation responses to update theCR's activation status. At the end of the CR resend process for a CR,embodiments of the system may update the CR's activation status and timeas maintained for each SCP on the CR's Active SCP list. An example usecase is as follows:

Use Case CR-UC-9 ID Use Case Resend CR to SCP(s) Name Use Case A userrequests that embodiments of the system resend a Description CustomerRecord (Regular CR, PR, or TR) to Service Control Points (SCPs). Therequest may be applied to specific SCPs or all SCPs in the CR's Area ofService (AOS). This capability is often used to clear CR's “stuck” inSENDING status due to problems at one or more SCPs in the CR's AOS. MFSMFS 21 Reference Actor(s) User (toll-free service provider, SCP networkadministrator, network manager, or administrator) System (disclosedembodiment) Functional CR - Customer Record Administration CategoryAssump- In embodiments, the system has verified the identity and tionspermissions of the user or has established the necessary and Pre- APIinterface connectivity. Conditions The target CR exists in the databasewith status of SENDING, ACTIVE, DISCONNECT, or FAILED. Post- A resendreport is made available to the user regarding the Conditions results ofthe resend (update) action with respect to the requested SCP(s). Logentries of the resend results at each SCP may be recorded. The CR statusmay be updated for the SCP IDs on the CR's Active SCP List. InterfaceHuman User Interface Consid- API interface (REQ/RSP-SCP) erationsPrimary 1. The user specifies or selects the TFN or Template Name Flowof the CR for the resend request. 2. In embodiments, the systemvalidates that the CR exists in the database in the ACTIVE, SENDING,DISCONNECT, or FAILED states, and that the user is generally authorizedto perform the CR resend action. 3. In embodiments, the system retrievesthe CR from the database, and determines the Control toll-free serviceprovider and the SCPs in the CR AOS that may receive the resend. Inembodiments, the system presents the list of SCPs defined in embodimentsof the system to the user, with those SCPs from the CR's Active SCP list(for its Area of Service) identified, and with the CR's last knownactivation status at each SCP. 4. The user specifies or selects: a. SCPList - the list of 1 or more SCP IDs for the resend, or all SCPs in theCR's AOS b. Critical Indicator - Whether or not the request is to beprocessed by any SCPs in overload (deemed a “critical resend”). 5. Inembodiments, the system validates that the user is authorized to requestthe re-send for the CR at the indicated SCPs (the Control toll-freeservice provider, an SCP administrator or network manager at the SCPO/O, or from administration sources). If a Template Record is being re-sent, embodiments of the system validates that the specified SCPssupport template records. 6. In embodiments, the system confirms to theuser that the resend request has been accepted and is being processed.7. In embodiments, the system interacts with the SCPs via the TM-798UPD-CPR and RSP-RCU messages to resend the CR to each SCP and logs theresults. 8. In embodiments, the system updates the CR's activationstatus at each SCP and logs each SCP's resend result for the CR. Itcompiles the results for the TFN or Template Name across all targetSCPs. 9. The results of the resend at each SCP may be presented or madeavailable to the user. Alternate E1: At step 1, embodiments of thesystem determines that Flows no CR corresponding to the TFN or TemplateName exists in the database in the SENDING, ACTIVE, DISCONNECT or FAILEDstates, or that one exists but the user is not authorized to initiateresends for it. An appropriate not- found or error indication isreturned, and processing stops. E2: At Step 5, embodiments of the systemdetermines the user is not authorized to perform the resend to one ormore of the specified SCPs. An error indication is returned with the SCPIDs indicated, and processing stops. E3: At Step 5 embodiments of thesystem determines the user has requested to resend a Template Record toan SCP that does not support Template Records, and an error indicationis returned with the SCP IDs indicated, and processing stops. A1. InStep 7, one or more SCPs either fail to respond to the CR updatecommand, and embodiments of the system times out and stops waiting forthe responses, logs the non- responses, and completes Steps 8 and 9 withthe information available.

There may be a number of tasks where a system administrator entersvalues for configuration parameters that control an aspect of systemfunctionality. A pre-condition is that the user is a systemadministrator with permissions to perform the specific administrativetask.

For each administrative use case, the following sequence of stepsapplies:

-   -   Step 1: The user enters values;    -   Step 2: The system verifies the user input; and    -   Step 3: The system accepts the parameter values and notifies the        user of success.

If the user input is not valid or some other condition preventssuccessful completion of the use case, embodiments of the system informthe user of an error.

Requirements-Minimal Feature Set Current MFS state or # New FunctionDescription MFS Current Annual Annual audit between system and SCP 22state Customer using 798. Record Key audit only. Record Compare keys.Resend CR gaps. Audit MFS Current SCP-SMS A separate SCP-SMS ReverseAudit 23 state Reverse process may input batch files of CRs Auditextracted from the individual SCPs, process compare them to those in theCR database and note any discrepancies in terms of the presence andEffective Dates/Times of the CRs, and (as a user option) verify thecontrol toll-free service provider. MFS Current Carrier As a carrier, Ineed to get paid every time 25 state Notification you dip against me.This relates to inter- and carrier compensation charges for Approvalproviding call routing services through an SCP. The SCP provides a callprocessing record for every call that terminates to a toll-free number.Usually, carriers through their LECs handle all toll free call routingby “dipping” an SCP. When a RespOrg decides to route their calls througha carrier, it is required that they (the RespOrg) have a commercialagreement with that carrier. This administrative function allows acarrier to allow or disallow RespOrgs to use their network to delivercalls. MFS Current CRA In embodiments, the system can be 26 stateLogging required to provide logging of detailed CRA activity.

IntraLata (CIC 0110) Routing Support

Requirements-Minimal Feature Set Current state MFS # or New Sub FunctionDescription MFS Current state CIC 0110 IntraLATA routing support 27Support

With reference to FIG. 43, the CIC 0110 validations 4300 from theperspectives of each of the involved service providers, including theIncumbent LEC (ILEC)/CCS Network Provider that operates the SSP, theterminating CCS network (the “Network Provider”), the ILEC or CLEC thathas been assigned the NPA-NXX code and offers service to the terminatingsubscriber lines (the “Carrier”), and their relationship to the CR'stoll-free service provider Control toll-free service provider, which mayall be the same or different entities.

With reference to FIG. 44, the series of reference data lookups that maybe performed to validate the use of CIC code OTC-0110 with specifiedPOTS destination telephone numbers in the CPR may be depicted.Functional requirements for the specifics of validation processing thenfollow.

Use Case ID CR-UC-10 Use Case Notify Affected Carrier of CIC Routing orToll-Free Name Service Provider Change Use Case In embodiments, thesystem autonomously notifies a Description carrier's external systemthat another toll-free service provider's CR using its CICs has beenpended in the database with a change requiring the carrier's approval,or has been activated in the network with a change requiring the carrierbe notified. (The notification action also applies to cancellations ofprior requests when subsequent CR changes or deletions result in a priorreported change no longer being applicable.) MFS MFS 25 ReferenceActor(s) User (Carrier) System (disclosed embodiment) Functional CR -Customer Record Administration Category Assumptions In embodiments, thesystem has verified the identity and Pre- and permissions of the user orhas established the Conditions necessary API interface connectivity. TheCarrier has established Carrier Notification and Approval (CNA) controlsfor the CIC in question. Post- The notification is delivered to thecarrier's external Conditions system or user mailbox. Interface HumanUser Interface Consid- API interface (UNS-SNA) erations Primary 1. A CRwith the carrier's CIC and presenting a Flow change in service of thetype requiring approval by the carrier is pended to the database, OR ACR with the carrier's CIC and presenting a change of the type requiringcarrier notification is activated in the system. 2. An autonomousnotification is generated and sent to the Carrier system to notify theCarrier user about the service change reflected in the CR update andwhen applicable, requesting their review and approval of the change.

The Carrier notification function facilitates authorized carrier usersto receive and review notifications about CR changes affecting theirCICs. The Carrier Notification and Approval (CNA) functions allowtelecom carriers to define business agreements with toll-free serviceproviders, set up permissions for the use of their CarrierIdentification Codes (CICs) in toll-free service CRs, receivenotifications of when their CICs may be used or modified on CRs, andapprove when their codes may be used on specific CR's controlled byother service providers.

In embodiments, the system can validate the CICs used in CRs to specifycall routing, based on carrier permissions and restrictions specified incarrier and CNA reference data, generate notifications to the carriers,and correlate those against carrier approvals before the CRs containingthe carrier's CICs may be activated.

The toll-free service providers' View of Carrier Approval Statusfacilitates toll-free service providers to query carrier approval statusinformation for their CRs at both a summary level and a detailed level(per-carrier), when multiple carriers may be involved.

An example use case to notify an affected carrier of CIC routing ortoll-free service provider change is as follows

Use Case ID CR-UC-11 Use Case Carrier Reviews Notifications Name UseCase A carrier selects, retrieves, and views a list of Descriptionoutstanding CNA notifications and approval requests for their CICsresulting from other service provider's CRs being pended or activated inthe system, and selects one for viewing and follow-on activity. MFS MFS25 Reference Actor(s) User (Carrier or administrator) System (disclosedembodiment) Functional CR - Customer Record Administration CategoryAssumptions In embodiments, the system has verified the identity andPre- and permissions of the user. Conditions The Carrier has establishedCarrier Notification and Approval (CNA) controls for their CICs. Post- Asummary list of outstanding CNA notifications and Conditions approvalrequests meeting the user's request criteria is returned/displayed, fromwhich one may be selected. No change is made to the notification data.Interface Human User Interface Consid- erations Primary 1. A carrieruser enters or selects a CIC, an Effective Flow Date range, andToll-Free NPA filter for the desired list of CIC Routing or toll-freeservice provider Change notifications. 2. The user submits the requestto the system. 3. In embodiments, the system validates that the user isfrom the carrier entity that controls the CIC, or is from SMSadministration, and is authorized to access the notification list. 4. Inembodiments, the system retrieves and displays the notification list,including for each notification: CR's TFN or Template Name CR'sEffective Date and Time The Notification Reason (the CR's changecondition) The CR's Carrier Approval Status An indication of whether thecarrier's approval is requested/required A link or other mechanism bywhich the notifications may be selected for subsequent action. 5. Theuser then selects an individual notification to view and retrieves thenotification details. Additional information requirements regarding thedetailed notifications may be discussed in the functional requirementsof Section 4.6.2.4. Subsequent to this interaction the user may conductother follow-on activity concerning the notification such as viewingrelevant portions of the CR, submitting an approval response, ordeleting the notification. Alternate E1: In Step 3, embodiments of thesystem determine Flows the user is not authorized to accessnotifications for the selected CIC. An error response is returned andprocessing stops. E2: In Step 3, no notifications meeting the filtercriteria may be found in the system, and a not-found indication isreturned to the requesting user.

Carrier Submits Approval or Denial of CR Update

Use Case ID CR-UC-12 Use Case Carrier Submits Approval or Denial of CRUpdate Name Use Case A carrier selects a CR approval request concerningtheir Description CIC(s) and submits the carrier's approval or denialfor the CR. MFS MFS 25 Reference Actor(s) User (Carrier oradministrator) System (disclosed embodiment) Functional CR - CustomerRecord Administration Category Assump- In embodiments, the system hasverified the identity and tions and permissions of the user or hasestablished API interface Pre- connectivity. Conditions The Carrier hasestablished Carrier Notification and Approval (CNA) controls for theirCICs. CR approval requests for one or more of their CICs exist in thedatabase. Post- A status of “granted” or “denied” is assigned to theapproval Conditions request with respect to the carrier, and can becorrelated to the corresponding PENDING CR in the database. InterfaceHuman User Interface Consid- API Interface (REPT/RSP-APR) erationsPrimary 1. A carrier user (or TFMP Administration user) searches Flow(HUI case only) for one or more CR approval requests, based on one ormore of the following search criteria: CIC TFN (or TF NPA, or TFNrange), or Template Name Effective Date and Time (EDT) or EDT rangeControl toll-free service provider Notification Time stamp CurrentRequest Approval Status (granted, denied, undetermined) 2. Inembodiments, the system responds with one or more Approval Requestsmeeting the search criteria. (HUI case only) 3. The user specifies orselects a specific approval request (about a PENDING CR) to address. 4.In embodiments, the system validates that the user is from the carrierentity that controls the CIC, or is from TFMP administration, and isauthorized to specify approvals for the CIC. 5. The user specifies orselects the desired approval status for the request (granted, denied),and if denied, the reason for the denial (a 2 character alphabetic,carrier-specific code for the reason). 6. The user submits the requestto update the approval status. 7. In embodiments, the system responds,confirming the specified status value for the approval request, and logsthe approval response action. Alternate E1: In step 1, no requests matchthe search criteria, so a Flows not-found indication is returned to theuser and processing stops. E2: In step 4, an embodiment of the systemdetermines the user is not authorized to access/respond to the approvalrequests for the selected CIC. An error re- sponse is returned to theuser.

Use Case ID CR-UC-13 Use Case Notify Control toll-free service providerof Carrier Name Approval or Denial Use Case In embodiments, the systemautonomously notifies a Description Control toll-free service provideruser or external system that all carriers requiring approval havegranted approval requests for a pending CR, or that one carrier hasdenied the request, so that the CR has transitioned from the AWAITcarrier approval status to the GRANTED or DENIED approval status(respectively). MFS MFS 25 Reference Actor(s) User (toll-free serviceprovider) System (disclosed embodiment) Functional CR - Customer RecordAdministration Category Assumptions In embodiments, the system hasverified the identity and and Pre- permissions of the user or hasestablished the necessary API Conditions interface connectivity. Theapproval request(s) was/were previously generated by embodiments of thesystem as a result of CR creation or updates, combined with one or morecarriers' CNA policies with respect to the toll-free service provider.Post- The notification is delivered to the toll-free service Conditionsprovider's external system or user mailbox. Interface Human UserInterface Consid- API interface (UNS-ACT) erations Primary 1. Thesystem, which tracks carrier responses to the Flow approval requests,determines that either the last outstand- ing approval request for agiven CIC on the CR has been granted, OR one of one of more carriersrequiring approval has denied approval. 2. In embodiments, the systemupdates the CR's Carrier Approval Status from AWAIT to GRANTED orDENIED, respectively, and generates a notification of the event to theCR's TOLL-FREE SERVICE PROVIDER. The notification contains the followinginformation about the CR: The Control toll-free service provider TFN orTemplate Name Effective Date and Time Date and time of receipt (denialor last grant) Approval Indication (granted all carriers, denied by acarrier) Denial information (if denied by a carrier): CIC Reason code(2-character carrier-specific reason code). Alternate None identified.Flows

In embodiments, the system can be required to provide various logs ofdetailed CRA activity in order to support a number of key reports. Inembodiments, the system can also provide a variety of measurements ofCRA activity and associated resource usage, both in aggregate for thesystem, and where attributable to the respective toll-free serviceproviders whose CRs may be being processed.

There may be certain items that may be validated in embodiments of thesystem as a result of outside carriers or partner's rules. One such ruleis:

Requirements-Minimal Feature Set Current state MFS # or New Sub FunctionDescription MFS Current state Carrier business AT&T accepts onlyturn-around 32 rules records/validations.

A Mass Change is an event that requires embodiments of the system toperform a large volume of changes in a short period of time. Dependingon the Mass Change event, it may be necessary to update system referencedata and a large number of impacted AoS labels and customer records. Inembodiments, the system thus provides functionality for management andadministration of Mass Changes.

The setup of Mass Changes may, for example, be performed online and theexecution of the job processing the Mass change is done in thebackground.

Customer Record Mass Changes MFS Current MFS state or # New Sub FunctionDescription MFS Current Owning toll-free Convert all or subset ofnumbers and 28 state service provider CRs from old toll-free servicepro- give away all vider to new toll-free service numbers to provideranother Provider (Mass toll-free service provider Change) MFS CurrentPOTS NPA Updates CRs due to overlays. While 29 state Changes (not NPASplits may be unlikely to TF) happen, support is provided to CR updatesbased on Overlays. MFS Current 1. CR updates Industry data changes suchas Over- 30 state from Industry lays or Splits can cause CRs to be up-Network dated. Other industry data changes data changes. (reference datachanges) can also 2. Toll-free cause CRs to require automatic up-service provider dates. (POTS NPA Changes) and driven (CR updates due toindustry data CR updates changes). Mass toll-free service providerChanges, Mass Carrier Change, Mass Disconnect & Spare. MFS Current SCPArea of A CCS Network consists of SCPs that 31 state Service providerouting information for toll- Definition/ free calls originated from adefined Expansion area of the POTS network, referred to as the SCP Areaof Service. When a CCS Network is added or due to changes in theoperations of CCS Networks, such as a merger or expansion, it isnecessary to define or add to an SCP Area of Service

This section has a sample of some of the many use cases that may becovered in this functionality. It does not represent every possible usecase and should be but an example base for determining CRAfunctionality.

Example Set Criteria for a NPA Code Opening/Overlay Mass Change is asfollows:

Use Case ID CR-UC-14 Use Case Name NPA Code Opening/Overlay Mass ChangeSetup Use Case Administrator prepares for and executes an upcomingDescription NPA Code Opening/Overlay MFS Reference MFS 29 Actor(s) User(disclosed embodiment administrator) System (disclosed embodiment)Functional CRA Mass Changes Category Pre-Conditions The user has loggedinto the system. and In embodiments, the system has verified identityand Assumptions permissions of the specific user. Post- Criteria for anNPA Code Opening/Overlay Mass Conditions Change may be set. InterfaceHuman User Interface Considerations Primary Flow Step 1 The userindicates the mass change is an NPA Code Opening/Overlay and enters thefollowing infor- mation: New NPA Code New NPA State Existing NPAs to beoverlaid CCS Networks for New NPA LATAs for New NPA Step 2 The userenters the date the NPA code can be operational (Open date) and thenumber of days in advance for the beginning of Mass Change processing(used to calculate Open-X date). Step 3 In embodiments, the systemverifies that the data entered is valid and provides a response that theMass Change criteria have been accepted. Step 4 An identifier for themass change operation is established and status is set to PENDING forthe Mass Change. Alternate E1: At Step 1, embodiments of the system maynotify Flows the user if any of the data entered is invalid, such as anincorrect state or existing NPAs, CCS networks, or LATAs that may be notoperational in the indicated state. E2: At Step 2, embodiments of thesystem may notifies the user if the date information is not valid. TheOpen date and Open-X date may occur after the current date.

Example Set Criteria for a mass carrier change is as follows:

Use Case ID CR-UC-15 Use Case Set Criteria for a Mass Carrier ChangeName Use Case Administrator sets up the criteria for a mass Descriptioncarrier change MFS MFS 28; MFS 29; Reference Actor(s) User (disclosedembodiment administrator) System (disclosed embodiment) Functional CRAMass Changes Category Pre- The user has logged into the system.Conditions and In embodiments, the system has verified identity andAssumptions permissions of the specific user All reference data requiredto define a carrier has been entered for the Change-to Carrier. Post-Criteria for a mass carrier change may be set. Conditions InterfaceHuman User Interface Considerations Primary Flow Step 1 The Userindicates the mass change is a mass carrier change and enters thefollowing information: One or more change-from carriers One change-tocarrier for each change-from carrier One or more toll-free serviceprovider entities or toll-free service provider units per changefrom/change-to carrier (optional) One or more LATAs per changefrom/change-to carrier (optional) Step 2 The user enters the date thecarrier change can be completed (carrier date) and a number of daysprior for when carrier changes can begin (carrier-X date). Step 3 Inembodiments, the system verifies that the data entered is valid andprovides a response that the mass change criteria have been accepted.Step 4 An identifier for the mass change operation is established andstatus is set to PENDING for the Mass Change. Alternate E1: At Step 1,embodiments of the system notifies the Flows user if any of the dataentered is invalid, such as an invalid Carrier code. Toll-free serviceprovider entity or Unit, or LATA. E2: At Step 2, embodiments of thesystem notifies the user if the date information is not valid. TheCarrier and Carrier-X date may occur after the current date.

Use Case ID CR-UC-16 Use Case Name Set Criteria for a Mass Toll-FreeService Provider Change Use Case Description Administrator sets up thecriteria for a mass toll-free service provider change MFS Reference MFS28 Actor(s) User (disclosed embodiment administrator System (disclosedembodiment) Functional Category CRA Mass Changes Pre-Conditions and Theuser has logged into the system. Assumptions In embodiments, the systemhas verified identity and permissions of the specific user.Post-Conditions Criteria for a mass toll-free service provider changemay be set. Interface Human User Interface Considerations Primary FlowStep 1 The user indicates the mass change is a mass toll-free serviceprovider Change and enters the Change-from toll-free service providerentity or toll-free service provider Unit and corresponding Change-totoll-free service provider entity or toll-free service provider UnitStep 2 The user enters the date the toll-free service provider Changecan be completed (toll-free service provider date) and a number of daysprior for when carrier changes can begin (toll-free service provider-Xdate). Step 3 In embodiments, the system verifies that the data enteredis valid and provides a response that the Mass Change criteria have beenaccepted. Step 4 An identifier for the mass change operation isestablished and status is set to PENDING for the Mass Change. AlternateFlows E1: At Step 1, embodiments of the system notify the user if any ofthe toll-free service provider entity or toll-free service providerUnits entered may be invalid. E2: At Step 2, embodiments of the systemnotify the user if the date information is not valid. The toll-freeservice provider date and toll-free service provider-X date may occurafter the current date.

In embodiments, the system may identify records impacted by a masschange. Using the mass change criteria, embodiments of the system cansearch for records that may be impacted by the mass change and determineif the record can be updated for the mass change information or ifmanual intervention is required. The identification process can berepeated after verification of the results and manual action has beentaken for those records that cannot be updated automatically.

In embodiments, the system can identify and update records that areimpacted by a mass change. Updated records may be assigned anappropriate effective date and time.

An example use case that updates customer records impacted by a masschange is as follows:

Use Case ID CR-UC-17 Use Case Name Update Customer Records Impacted by aMass Change Use Case Description Administrator executes a system processto update the customer records that may be impacted by a mass changeActor(s) User (disclosed embodiment administrator) System (disclosedembodiment) Functional Category CRA mass changes Pre-Conditions and Theuser has logged into the system. Assumptions In embodiments, the systemhas verified identity and permissions of the specific user. Customerrecords impacted by the mass change have been identified.Post-Conditions Customer records that may be impacted by a mass changemay be updated and assigned an effective date and time. Interface HumanUser Interface Considerations Primary Flow Step 1 The user indicates themass change for the customer record update process, the date to begindownload of updated customer records and the number of customer recordsto download each quarter hour. For an SCP Area of Service Expansion, theuser indicates if updated customer records may be to be sent over thelinks to SCPs (online update) or extracted to a file (offline update).Step 2 The user specifies a start date and time for the process to begin(default is immediate). Step 3 In embodiments, the system creates aversion of Active, Sending, and Disconnect impacted customer recordswith the an effective date and a time calculated based on the indicateddownload start date, number of records and the indicated quarter hourquantity. Pending and Hold impacted customer records may be updated withno change to the effective date and time. Step 4 In embodiments, thesystem provides an indication that processing is completed and that theresults (customer records updated, customer records failed update) maybe available for review. Alternate Flows E1: At Step 1 and 2,embodiments of the system notify the user if the mass change or thestart date and time may be invalid. E2: At Step 4, embodiments of thesystem notify the user if processing cannot begin or ends beforecompletion.

SCP administration and network management may be two important functionsdefined under SCP management. SCP administration functions inembodiments allow users to establish and modify SCP-related referencedata in embodiments of the system and send messages to the SCP nodes andtheir Call Management Services Database (CMSDB) subsystems to managedata tables that reside there.

Network management functions for the toll-free Service involve themanagement of various parameters for automatic capabilities intended tomonitor and control toll-free query traffic and calling volumes at theService Control Points (SCPs), Service Switching Points (SSPs),terminating switches and terminating subscriber lines. When various callvolume thresholds may be exceeded, the SCPs trigger Automatic CallGapping (ACG) code controls at the originating SSPs.

The disclosed embodiment of the Network Management functions allownetwork managers to configure and adjust the relevant control parameterson SCP. Data collection at the SCPs can be configured through thedisclosed embodiment to provide network managers with relevantsurveillance information useful to monitor traffic and analyze problems,such as the detection of SCP overloads and excessive calling orexcessive ineffective attempts to dialed codes.

The SCP Management (SCP-M) functions may be used by SCP administratorsat the SCP Owner/Operator (SCP O/O) companies and by network managersfor the SS7/CCS networks, which may be typically operated by the sameSCP O/O entities or otherwise affiliated with them. SCP-M functions mayinteract directly with the SCPs via the SCP Interface as defined inTM-798. An example of these interactions is illustrated in FIG. 45.

Requirements-Minimal Feature Set Current state or MFS # New Sub FunctionDescription MFS 33 Current SCP The definition and configuration of SCPsstate Administration and related SCP information MFS 34 Current MasterNumber In embodiments, the system may state List maintain for eachmanaged SCP a list of toll-free NPAs, and for each NPA-an effectivedated list of their contained NXXs for which toll-free Customer Records(CRs) may be loaded and for which toll-free database queries may bereceived. WS 35 Current SCP Mated SCP's may be generally defined inmated state Pairs pairs. In embodiments, the system can need to keeptrack of this relationship. WS 36 Current 798 Protocol TM-798 Interfacemessaging, and others state can be used for communicating and exchangingthe messages between the disclosed embodiment and the SCP. WS 37 CurrentNetwork Network management is done by the SCP state Managementimplementing overload controls whenever call volume thresholds may beexceeded. The disclosed embodiment defines the controls and setsthresholds. Data collection at the SCPs can be requested throughdisclosed embodiment to provide network managers with information toanalyze problems.

There may be additional features supported by the disclosed architecturesuch as the examples which follow:

SCP Management-New Feature Set NFS # Function Description NFS 13 Provideto the Today, all information sent to an SCP is sent via a SCPs theability push. In some cases the SCP requests this to pull callinformation, but they may wait till the request is routing detailsprocessed before receiving the information. In rather than onlyembodiments, the system should allow an SCP to allowing a push pullinformation directly from the system. Controls may be built intoembodiments of the system to only allow records that may be released bythe toll- free provider to be pulled.

SCP administration functions of the disclosed embodiment allow users toestablish and modify SCP-related reference data in embodiments of thesystem and send messages to the SCP nodes.

The principal users of SCP-M functionality may be assumed to be SCPadministrators at the SCP Owner Operator (SCP O/O) companies and networkmanagers at Network Management Centers (NMCs) or Network OperationsCenter (NOCs) at the telecom network providers who operate theSS7/Common Channel Signaling (CCS) networks. Secondary users may beadministrators, who have global privileges to access the data andfacilitate administrative and control actions of the SCP administratorsand network managers.

The current system SCP Administration supports the management of SCPdata tables or similar data structures. Functionality provided by acurrent system may be supported in embodiments of a new system. Designof disclosed embodiments may vary. These may include the following:

Table Description/Purpose SCP ID Table The SCP ID table defines SCPsmanaged by the disclosed embodiment and key parameters associated witheach SCP Mated Pair The SCP Mated Pair Table is used to defineactive/active highly Table available relationships between individualSCPs within the same Active/Active CCS network. Configuration) SSP ListsFor each CCS network, embodiments of the system can maintain a list ofSSPs that may route Toll-Free Database queries to an SCP. Thisinformation is used to validate SSPs specified for SSP based specialstudies. Toll-Free NPA- The SCP Toll-Free NPA-NXX List contains thetoll-free NPAs and NXX Lists their NXXs belonging to the SCP in theuser's CCS network. This list specifies the domain of dialed codes whosecustomer records may be loaded at that SCP and whose toll-free databasequeries may be to be handled by that SCP. This is sometimes referred toas the SCP's Master Number List.

A common practice among SCP owner-operators is the running of periodic(typically annual) batch audits of extracted files of SCP customerrecords against the database in order to detect outdated or missing SCPCRs. The process is known as a reverse audit, because it uses theextracted SCP records as a basis for the audit comparison instead of thedatabase. The typical practice for each SCP O/O has been to periodicallyaudit each toll-free NPA's range of CRs by extracting a SCP-generated CRaudit file for that NPA.

The audit file is not a complete view of the CRs, but is rather anextracted listing of each loaded CR's Customer Record Number (CRN),i.e., the TFN or numeric Template ID in NPA-NXX-XXXX format, EffectiveDate and Time, and toll-free service provider ID. The audit file is thenloaded to the TFMP administration. The reverse audit process thencompares the records to the corresponding CRs. The discrepancies maythen trigger CR resends to the target SCP via the TM-798 interface, ormay be written to file for a subsequent batch resend.

The SCP Administration function supports actions performed by SCPadministrators and disclosed embodiment administrators. The followingmay be sample use cases addressing SCPs, SCP mates, SSP lists andSCP-NPA NXX lists, among other administrative controls and limits forSCP Operations. These do not cover every possible action.

An example use case to define a SCP ID in the disclosed embodiment is asfollows:

Use Case ID SM-UC-1 Use Case Name Define a SCP ID and its attributeswithin the disclosed embodiment. Use Case Description The administratorenters the information required to create an SCP into the disclosedembodiment. WS Reference MFS 33 Actor(s) User (administrator system)System (disclosed embodiment) Functional Category SM-SCP Management.Pre- User has logged on to embodiments of the system and hasConditions/Assumptions permissions to perform the requested action. TheSCP ID has not been defined in the system. The CCS Network Id hasalready been defined in the system. Post-Conditions A SCP ID is definedin the system's database. Interface Considerations The user should beconnected via a HUI (Human User Interface) to access the system. PrimaryFlow 1. The user enters the CCS Network ID, the parent object for whichthe SCP ID is being defined. 2. The user enters the information relatedto data elements to define a SCP ID: Node Id Template Record Indicator3. The user submits all SCP information to the system. 4. Inembodiments, the system validates the data elements per datarequirements and that the SCP ID has not already been defined in thesystem. 5. In embodiments, the system validates the information providedand interacts with the SCP 6. In embodiments, the system returns aconfirmation message to the user confirming creation of the SCP ID inembodiments of the system Alternate Flows E1: At Step 1, if the CCSNetwork Id is not found, embodiments of the system cannot allow the userto create the SCP. E2: At Step 4, if system validation fails, thenembodiments of the system cannot allow the user to create the SCP. E4:At Step 5, if the SCP fails to interact with embodiments of the systemor does not accept the information, then embodiments of the systemcannot allow the user to create the SCP. In all cases, an errorindication is returned to the user and further processing stops.

An example use case to Update the SCP ID data is as follows:

Use Case ID SM-UC-3 Use Case Name Update the SCP ID data in thedisclosed embodiment. Use Case Description The TFMP administrator canupdate the SCP ID data in the disclosed embodiment. MFS Reference MFS33; MFS 34 Actor(s) User (disclosed embodiment administrator) System(disclosed embodiment) Functional Category SM-SCP Management. Pre- Userhas logged on to embodiments of the system and hasConditions/Assumptions permissions to perform the requested action TheSCP ID, for which the update is being made, has been defined in thesystem. The CCS Network ID has already been defined in the system. Theuser can only update the queue status (from Queue to Not Queue) andTemplate Supported indicator in the SCP. Post-Conditions A SCP ID datais updated in the system Interface Considerations The user should beconnected via a HUI (Human User Interface) to access the system. PrimaryFlow 1. The user enters the SCP Id to retrieve the SCP ID data from thesystem's database. 2. In embodiments, the system verifies if the userhas permission to manage the above SCP Id. 3. User modifies the SCP IDdata and submits the SCP ID information (Template Supported and Queuestatus) for validation and processing. 4. System validates the dataelements per data requirements section and according to FR section. 5.In embodiments, the system returns a confirmation message to the userconfirming modifications of the SCP ID data in the system. AlternateFlows E1: At Step 1, if the SCP ID does not match the system's database,then embodiments of the system cannot allow the user to retrieve/updatethe SCP ID data. E2: At Step 2, if the SCP ID does not belong to theuser's CCS network, then embodiments of the system cannot allow the userto retrieve the SCP ID data. E3: At Step 3, if validation fails, thenembodiments of the system cannot allow the user to modify the SCP IDdata. In all the above cases, an error indication is returned to theuser and further processing is stopped.

Establish or Update SCP mated pair inside the disclosed embodiment is asfollows:

Use Case ID SM-UC-5 Use Case Name Establish or Update SCP mated pairinside the disclosed embodiment. Use Case Description The TFMPadministrator or SCP administrator enters the SCP IDs to establish arelationship between two SCPs as SCP mates in the system. MFS ReferenceMFS 35 Actor(s) User (SCP administrator or disclosed embodimentadministrator) System (disclosed embodiment) Functional Category SM-SCPManagement. Pre- The SCPs to be defined as a mated pair should belong toConditions/Assumptions the user's CCS network. The SCP IDs that may bemated should have been defined in the SCP ID table. The SCPs should notbe a mated with any other SCPs. User has logged on to embodiments of thesystem and has permissions to perform the requested action.Post-Conditions The SCP Mate relationship is now established in thesystem Interface Considerations The user should be connected via a HUI(Human User Interface) to access the system. Primary Flow 1. User entersor selects an SCP ID and a second (different) SCP ID for the SCP mate.2. In embodiments, the system verifies that both SCP IDs may be managedby the same user of a CCS Network. 3. The user requests the two SCPs bedefined as mated pair. 4. In embodiments, the system validates the matedpairs. 5. The system updates the table identifying these two SCPs as amated pair. 6. The system returns a confirmation message to the usernoting the establishment the SCP mated pair in the system. AlternateFlows E1: At step 1, if the entered SCP ID is not found in the table andan error or not-found indication is returned. E2: At Step 2, if the SCPID does not belong to the user's CCS network, then embodiments of thesystem cannot allow the user to mate the pair. E3: At Step 4, If eitherSCP ID is already mated to another SCP ID or any other validations fail,then an error message is returned to the user indicating the SCPID isalready mated. In all the above cases, an error indication is returnedto the user and further processing is stopped.

The disclosed embodiment may interface with all the SCPs using theTM-798 standard interface protocol. The embodiments of the disclosedarchitecture can maintain that interface standard as have each SCPchange the interface may not be a viable approach.

The SCP interface is a dedicated Wide-Area Network (WAN) link supportingthe establishment of TCP/IP socket connections between embodiments ofthe system and each SCP. In embodiments, the system may maintain a setof data related to the interface for each SCP, such as an IP address andTCP port number, as described by SR-4959, SCP-TFMP TCP/IP InterfaceSpecification.

The embodiments of the disclosed architecture may need to translate thenecessary information from its internal data stores into a standardinterface for transmission to the SCPs.

Network management is performed automatically by the SCP implementingoverload controls whenever call volume thresholds may be exceeded. Thedisclosed embodiment defines the controls and sets thresholds. Datacollection at the SCPs can be requested through disclosed embodiment toprovide network managers with information to analyze problems.

Mass Calling Thresholds may be used to provide the SCPs withsurveillance and control thresholds for each of 15 destination thresholdlevel classes defined by the disclosed embodiment. Each of thesethresholds is expressed in terms of the number of call attempts during,for example, a 2.5-minute period.

The disclosed embodiment automatically assigns a threshold level classto a particular destination telephone number of a toll-free-number,based on the number of lines associated with it, as specified on theCustomer Record (CR).

The SCP detects focused overloads by counting call attempts for eachdestination number and comparing the accumulated count to thesurveillance and control thresholds for the threshold level classassigned to the destination number.

If the call attempts during an example 2.5-minute measurement periodexceed the surveillance threshold for a destination telephone number,then the number is placed on a surveillance list.

A destination telephone number remains on the surveillance list until iteither does not exceed its surveillance threshold during a full2.5-minute measurement period or it exceeds its control threshold whenit's moved to the control list.

An example use case to Change the Mass Calling Threshold Data is asfollows:

Use Case ID SM-UC-6 Use Case Name Change the Mass Calling Threshold DataUse Case Description The administrator changes the default values ofMass Calling Threshold Data like Surveillance Threshold, ControlThreshold and Initial Gap Interval in the CCS network of its SCPs. WSReference MFS 37 Actor(s) User (disclosed embodiment administrator)System (disclosed embodiment) Functional Category SM-SCP Management.Pre- The CCS Network ID has already been defined in theConditions/Assumptions system. User can update the threshold values evenwhen the SCPs may be overloaded. User has logged on to embodiments ofthe system and has permissions to perform the requested action.Post-Conditions The Mass Calling Threshold values may be updated.Interface Considerations The user should be connected via a HUI (HumanUser Interface) to access the system. Primary Flow 1. The user entersthe CCS network ID, for which the thresholds need to be defined. 2. Inembodiments, the system verifies if the user has permission to managethe above CCS network ID. 3. The user initiates to modify theSurveillance threshold data of a CCS network. 4. In embodiments, thesystem checks if the surveillance threshold values changed by the userfor threshold levels 1 through 14 increases or remain the same with eachthreshold level increase and may be greater than their associatedsurveillance thresholds. Threshold level 15, which is used for studypurposes and tele voting, is excluded from these cross field validations5. The user now modifies the default Control threshold data. 6. Inembodiments, the system checks if the control threshold values changedby the user for threshold levels 1 through 14 increases or remain thesame with each threshold level increase and may be less than theirassociated control thresholds. Threshold level 15, which is used forstudy purposes, is excluded from these cross-field validations. 7. Theuser may also enter a value as initial gap interval. 8. The user submitsall these changes to the system. 9. In embodiments, the system validatesthe information provided and interacts with all the SCPs. 10. Inembodiments, the system sends these changes to all the SCPs in the CCSnetwork and returns a confirmation message of the updated values.Alternate Flows E1: At Step 1, if the CCS Network ID is not found,embodiments of the system cannot allow the user to modify the thresholdvalues. E2: At Step 4, if system validation fails, then embodiments ofthe system cannot allow the user to modify the threshold values. E3: AtStep 6, if system validation fails, then embodiments of the systemcannot allow the user to modify the threshold values. E4: At Step 9, ifsystem validation fails, then embodiments of the system cannot allow theuser to modify the threshold values. E5: At Step 10, if the SCP(s) failsto interact with embodiments of the system or does not accept theinformation, then embodiments of the system cannot allow the user tomodify the threshold values. In all cases, an error indication isreturned to the user and further processing stops.

The Excessive Calling Controls may be used to set and change the callingthresholds for 6-digit and 10-digit vacant toll-free and out of areanumbers. These excessive calling thresholds may be expressed in terms ofthe number of call attempts in a defined time interval (for e.g., 5minute period). When the thresholds may be met, the numbers may be addedto the control list and the calling rate is automatically limited by theSCP. In addition, a threshold is defined to automatically take thesenumbers off of the control list, when the calling rate decreasessufficiently.

The disclosed embodiment does not enforce the ACG (Automatic CallGapping). A set of control parameter thresholds may be used to invokethe ACG. Once the thresholds may be reached, the ACG is triggered at theSCP-SSP level.

Use Case ID SM-UC-7 Use Case Name Changing Excessive Calling ControlsUse Case Description The administrator or a network manager change thecontrol and decontrol threshold values for a 6-digit and 10-digit vacanttoll-free numbers. Actor(s) User (disclosed embodimentadministrator/network manager) System (disclosed embodiment) FunctionalCategory SM-SCP management. Pre- The SCP to be defined should belong tothe user's CCS Conditions/Assumptions network. User has logged on toembodiments of the system and has permissions to perform the requestedaction. User can override the threshold class assignments even when theSCP is overloaded. Post-Conditions The desired controls of callingthreshold for the vacant toll- free number may be changed. InterfaceConsiderations The user should be connected via a HUI (Human UserInterface) to access the system. Primary Flow 1. The user enters the CCSnetwork ID, for which the thresholds need to be defined. 2. Inembodiments, the system verifies if the user has permission to managethe above CCS network. 3. The user enters the SCP ID to set theExcessive Calling Thresholds. 4. User enters the control and decontrolthreshold values. 5. The user updates the entered values. 6. Inembodiments, the system validates the information provided and interactswith all the SCPs. 7. In embodiments, the system sends the updatedthreshold values to the desired SCP and returns a confirmation messageof the updated control thresholds. Alternate Flows E1: At Step 1, if theCCS Network ID is not found, embodiments of the system cannot allow theuser to modify the threshold values for vacant toll-free numbers. E2: AtStep 2, if system validation fails, then embodiments of the systemcannot allow the user to modify the threshold values for vacanttoll-free numbers. E3: At Step 3, if the SCP ID entered incorrect ordoes not belongs to the CCS network, then embodiments of the systemcannot allow the user to modify the threshold values for vacanttoll-free numbers. E4: At Step 6, if system validation fails, thenembodiments of the system cannot allow the user to modify the thresholdvalues for vacant toll-free numbers. In all cases, an error indicationis returned to the user and further processing stops.

The Special Studies Request is done when a potential problem issuspected in the network and is done by sampling traffic to a specificnumber, Telecom Owner Operator Network or an SSP (Service SwitchingPoint). A toll-free service provider, administrator, or a networkmanager can request an SCP owner operator for a special study into theirSCP and they can either accept or reject the request to enable thestudy.

The study is conducted to allow a maximum of 100 calls in a maximumduration of 168 hours (7 days), which ever limit is reached first i.e.,the collection of data can end when the specified number of callattempts have been monitored, or when the specified time limit isreached first.

The special study can be requested for a toll-free number, DestinationTelephone Number, carrier, or for an SSP. A toll-free number or aDestination Telephone Number of either 6-digit (NPA-NXX) or a full10-digit number (NPA-NXX-XXXX) can be requested for the study.

An example use case to Create a Special Study Request is as follows:

Use Case ID SM-UC-8 Use Case Name Create a Special Study Request UseCase Description The disclosed embodiment administrators or networkmanagers create a Special Study Request for one or more SCPs Actor(s)User (disclosed embodiment administrator/network manager) System(disclosed embodiment) Functional Category SM-SCP management. Pre- Thenetwork manager creating the special study should Conditions/Assumptionsbelong to the same CCS Network as the SCPs at which the study isrequested. User has logged on to embodiments of the system and haspermissions to perform the requested action. The study is conducted toallow a maximum of 100 calls in a maximum duration of 168 hours (7days), which ever limit is reached first i.e., the collection of datacan end when the specified number of call attempts have been monitored,or when the specified time limit is reached first. Post-Conditions TheSpecial Study Request is created in the desired SCPs. InterfaceConsiderations The user should be connected via a HUI (Human UserInterface) to access the system. Primary Flow 1. The user enters the CCSnetwork ID, for which the Special Study need to be defined. 2. Inembodiments, the system verifies if the user has permission to managethe above CCS network Id. 3. The user enters the SCP ID for the SpecialStudy. 4. In embodiments, the system verifies if the user has permissionto manage the above SCP ID. 5. For one or more desired SCPs, the userrequests a special study for a certain 10-digit or 6-digit toll-free ordestination code, carrier, or SSP. 6. The user submits the request tothe system. 7. In embodiments, the system validates the special studyand interacts with the SCP. 8. In embodiments, the system accepts theinformation, activates the study at the SCPs, and returns a confirmationmessage to the user. 9. At the end of the special study, embodiments ofthe system sends the results of the special study to the user. AlternateFlows E1: At Step 1, if the CCS Network ID is not found, embodiments ofthe system cannot allow the user to create a special study. E2: At Step2, if system validation fails, then embodiments of the system cannotallow the user to create a special study. E3: At Step 4, if the SCP IDentered incorrect or does not belong to the CCS network, thenembodiments of the system cannot allow the user to create a specialstudy. E4: At Step 8, If the Special Study limit maximum allowedquantity for an SCP has been exceeded, embodiments of the system rejectsthe request and indicates this to the User. E5: At Step 8, if systemvalidation fails, then embodiments of the system cannot allow the userto create a special study. In all cases, an error indication is returnedto the user and further processing stops.

In embodiments, the system is operable to generate a billing eventrecord whenever an event occurs that results in a charge to toll-freeservice provider entity in control of a toll-free number. Billing eventrecords may be collected and transferred to an external billing system.Currently, not all billable events result in a billing event recordbeing generated by embodiments of the system and a manual Billing eventrecord may be generated external to the current system. It may bedesirable to automate the creation of as many of the billing eventrecords as possible.

In embodiments, the system generates a record when an event related to abillable function occurs. The event record can provide the informationneeded to calculate a bill for the charges incurred by each organizationthat makes use of the embodiments of the disclosed architectureaccording to embodiments. The event record can include theidentification of the user, the action performed, and the date and timeof the occurrence.

Events Related to Billing Calculations per FCC Tariff Supported BillingCalculation Non-Recurring Monthly Event Charge Charge* NotesEstablishment Charge per Non-dedicated Billing event data currently of asystem Logon ID access charge provided by the TFMP Help Logon IDDesk/Data Center, no record generated by disclosed embodiment Suspensionof None Non-dedicated Billing event data currently System Access accesscharge provided by the TFMP Help Desk/Data Center, no record generatedby disclosed embodiment Re- Service Non-dedicated Billing event datacurrently establishment of restoration access charge provided by theTFMP Help System Access charge Desk/Data Center, no record generated bydisclosed embodiment Deletion of a None Non-dedicated Billing event datacurrently System Login access charge provided by the TFMP Help IDDesk/Data Center, no record generated by disclosed embodiment Assignmentof a Charge per Non-dedicated Billing event data currently Smart Cardfor Smart Card access charge provided by the TFMP Help System AccessDesk/Data Center, no record generated by disclosed embodimentEstablishment None Dedicated Billing event data currently of a Dedicatedaccess charge provided by the TFMP Help Interface Desk/Data Center, norecord generated by disclosed embodiment Deletion of a None DedicatedBilling event data currently Dedicated access charge provided by theTFMP Help Interface Desk/Data Center, no record generated by disclosedembodiment Reservation of a None Customer Billing event record generatedNumber Record Admin by system charge Number Status None Customer Billingevent record generated Changed to Record Admin by system Spare chargeReport Request Charge per None Billing event data currently reportprovided by the TFMP Help Desk/Data Center, no record generated bydisclosed embodiment Change of Toll- Charge per Customer Billing eventrecord generated free Service toll-free Record Admin by system Providerfor a service charge* Number provider change per number Bulk OperationNon-recurring None Billing event data currently Request charge perprovided by the TFMP Help bulk operation Desk/Data Center, no recordgenerated by disclosed embodiment NOTE: A tariff may define dedicationand non-dedicated access as follows: “Access to TFMP can be vianon-dedicated or dedicated connections. Dedicated access requires use ofa dedicated port on the disclosed embodiment on a full-time basis, otherforms of access share ports and other access resources.”

The interface to the billing system should remain intact and requireminimal changes to the current billing system to support disclosedembodiments. The current Billing system Interface format of the file andthe records it contains is described in TM-NWT-021766, and TFMP—Bill/800Interface Requirements.

A summary of the current Billing Event record data elements may be asfollows:

Billing Event Record Data Elements Billing Event Data ElementDescription and Usage Toll-Free Number Date and time of event BillingEvent Controlling toll-free Current toll-free service provider serviceprovider entity entity associated with toll-free number Toll-freeservice provider Current toll-free service provider unit Unit associatedwith toll-free number Responsible user login ID Identifies user whoinitiated event, indication of “system” for system initiated eventsToll-free number Number involved in billing event Toll-free numbercurrent Status of toll-free number involved status in billing eventToll-free number If event involves a status change previous statusPrevious toll-free service If event is toll-free service providerprovider entity entity change Previous toll-free service If event istoll-free service provider provider unit Unit change System Access Dateand time of event Billing Event Access type Indicates the type of accessinvolved in the billing event-login ID, dedicated, Smart Card Toll-freeservice provider Toll-free service provider entity entity involved inaccess event Access action Indicates action taken regarding the accesstype-suspend, restore, delete Access identifier Identifier for theaccess involved in the billing event (i.e., login ID), value of “All”,and others can be used for suspend and restore actions Report or BulkDate and time of event Operation Event Toll-free service providerToll-free service provider entity entity requesting report of bulkoperation Responsible user login ID Identifies user who requested reportor bulk operation Report or operation Report or bulk operation requestedrequested

Billing Event records illustrate changes to toll-free service providerentity control of toll-free numbers that may be used to calculatecharges to toll-free service provider Entities. On a periodic basis andin response to an on-demand request, embodiments of the system cancompile a list of toll-free numbers with the controlling toll-freeservice provider entity, current status, and date the number enteredthat status and transfer the data to an external billing system. Onlynumbers with a controlling toll-free service provider entity may beincluded.

In one example, a system administrator can specify when billing auditdata is to be collected and transferred. It is also possible to make anon-demand request for data to be collected and transferred as in theexample use case as follows.

Use Case ID BR-UC-1 Use Case Name Schedule Periodic Billing Audit DataCollection and Transfer Use Case Administrator specifies the frequencyfor the collection of billing Description audit data and the timing forthe data to be transferred. Actor(s) User (disclosed embodimentadministrator) System (disclosed embodiment) Pre-Conditions and The Userhas logged into the system. Assumptions In embodiments, the system hasverified identity and permissions of the specific user. Post-ConditionsBilling audit data collection frequency and transfer time for billingdata may be set. Interface None identified Considerations Primary FlowStep 1 The User enters the billing audit data collection frequency andthe corresponding transfer. Possible values are: None (audit data notcollected) Weekly with day of week and time of day for collection andtransfer¹ Monthly with date of them month and time of day for collectionand transfer Step 2 In embodiments, the system verifies that the dataentered is valid and provides a response that the collection frequencyand transfer time is accepted. Alternate Flows E1: At Step 2,embodiments of the system notify the user if data entered is notcorrectly formatted.

Due to the localized nature of call routing prior to the introduction ofcentralized routing databases, the same toll-free number may need to becontrolled by a different toll-free service provider and provide serviceto a different toll-free subscriber in different geographic regions. Insome instances arrangements still exist where the same number supportsdifferent toll-free service in different U.S. states and differentservice in the U.S. and Canada and other jurisdictions. A numberinvolved in this type of arrangement is referred to as a duplicatenumber. The terms toll-free number, toll-free system, toll-freetelecommunications network, toll-free carrier, and related terms as usedherein are not limited to the United States or North America, but haveequivalents throughout the world in other political, geographic, andtechnological regions. The methods, systems and functionalities, asdescribed herein, are applicable to and operable within such equivalentjurisdictions.

On a periodic basis, embodiments of the system can compile a list ofduplicate numbers and transfer the data to an external billing system.The data consists of the toll-free number providing duplicate service,the toll-free service provider entity for the number, the current statusof the number, and data related to the Customer Record for the number.The CR data includes the status of the CR and the effective date andtime of the CR. For the current system, this also includes indicationsif the CR includes Call Processing Record (CPR) and Label Definition(LAD) structures. Additional data is included from remarks entered inthe CR that indicates the actual toll-free service provider thatcontrols the number for each area where service is provided.

In embodiments of the disclosed architecture a subset of the series ofreports can be provided. The system will provide a warehouse of data forreporting and analytics. The warehouse will enable a user to pull eitherstandard (aka canned) reports or to generate user specific reports.Listed below are a series of reports that the current TFMP systemprovides. As an example of what reporting may be required, is a highlevel description of the reporting of the disclosed embodiment providesthe following types of reports:

Report Type Description On-demand Reports The disclosed embodimentgenerates on-demand report when a “system user” requests the report. Theon-demand reports may be not stored in the disclosed embodiment sincethey may be created on user's request. Results of the on-demand reportsmay be not stored in the disclosed embodiment Scheduled Reports Thescheduled reports may be generated by the disclosed embodimentoperational personnel on scheduled basis (i.e., daily, weekly, monthly,etc.). A user can request a scheduled report to get the most recentlygenerated report by the disclosed embodiment. Results of the scheduledreports may be stored in the disclosed embodiment. Exception ReportsReports that may be automatically generated by the disclosed embodimentwhen exclusive events occur either in the disclosed embodiment or in anSCP. The exception reports may be sent to the user's designated addressinformation provided by the “system user” to the disclosed embodiment.Industry Reports Reports required by the Industry: Weekly Number AdminReport-Distributed to industry, including FCC Auto Return to SpareReport-Distributed to FCC monthly, identifies TFNs in reserved statusthat have exceeded the 45 day limit and may be automatically returned tothe spare pool Miscellaneous Reports may be requested by the userhimself through accessing Reports the database tables and extracting theinformation needed through querying data

Most scheduled reports can also be accessed on-demand. The differencesare how the report is kicked off and where the results of the report aresent/stored. The reports below are required at a minimum, but theProvider is expected to propose additional reports, for example:

Report type Specific Reports Network Management Mass Calling Summary forToll-Free Numbers Under Reports Control report. This report is availableon-demand. Summary for Out of Area Toll-Free Numbers Under Controlreport. This report is available on-demand. Summary for Vacant CodesUnder Control report. This report is available on-demand. Manual ControlList report. This report is available on- demand. Special Studies Listreport. This report is available on- demand. Special Study Summaryreport. This report is available on- demand. POTS Number to Toll-FreeNumber Inquiry report. This report is available on-demand. SCP Listreport. SSP List report. SCP Administration Customer Record ExecutionError Summary report. Reports Low Sample Space Summary report. MisroutedQuery Summary. SCP Values Audit report. SCP NPA-NXX List report. SCPNPA-NXX List Audit report. SCP Status report. SCP Status Audit report.TFMP SCP CR Confirmation. Number Approaching Due report. AdministrationUnavailable Numbers report. Reports Reserved Numbers report. AssignedNumbers report. Transitional Numbers report. Number AdministrationSummary report. Daily Log Number Administration report. Daily LogSummary of Number Administration report. TFMP Number AdministrationConfirmation report. Customer Record CAD Only report. Reports CPR Onlyreport. LAD Only Report. PAD Only Report. TAD Only Report. WholeCustomer Record Report. Whole Template Record Report. Customer RecordAudit Results report. Customer Record Activation reports. Area ofService Label List reports. Deficient Customer Record report.Destination NPA-NXX Report. POTS to Toll-Free number Inquiry Report.Sending Customer Record Report. AOS Label to Toll-Free Number Inquiry(AIR). Template Records List Report. Pointer Records List report. DailyLog of Customer Record report. Daily Log Summary of Customer Record.Validation Results report. Affected CR By NPA-NXX-LATA Activity. FailedCR By NPA-NXX-LATA Move report. Directory Assistance NPA Selection List.Carrier Information List. CCS Network-State-NPA Report. CCS Network-LATAReport. Toll-free service provider List report. Logon ID List report.Telephone Company List report. Carrier Notification Allowable CICs forCR Input & Approval report and Approval Reports Administration ScheduledActivities report is an on-demand report. Reports NXX Percent Usedreport. SCP-SMS Audit Results report. Security User Data report. ServiceMaintenance Past Due toll-free service provider Change Requests report.Reports Denied toll-free service provider Change Requests report.

The Exception reports may be automatically generated by embodiments ofthe system when exclusive events occur either in the disclosedembodiment or in an SCP. For example, the Misrouted Queries ExceptionReport is sent each time an SCP receives a call processing query for atoll-free number having NXX not in the SCP's database.

Report type Specific Reports Network Management SCP Status Changereport. Exception Reports Threshold Level Class Override report. FailedRequests report. SCP Administration Customer Record Execution Errorreport. Exception Reports Low Sample Space Exception report. MisroutedQuery Exception report. Customer Record Customer Record ActivationFailure report. Exception Reports CNA toll-free service provider ChangeNotification to Involved Carriers report. Security Unsuccessful Logons.Administration Unsuccessful Password Change. Exception Reports

The user can query the database tables and extract information, asmentioned in the following examples:

-   -   In embodiments, the system logs specific number administration        events as history records e.g., status change and ownership        changes. The users can access this data to create their own        reports.    -   In embodiments, the system logs specific customer record events        as history records e.g., status change and ownership changes.        The users can access this data to create their own reports.    -   In embodiments, the system logs logon ID locking history that        the administrator can access and query reports from.    -   In embodiments, the system logs specific template record events        as history records e.g., status change and ownership changes.        The users can access this data to create their own reports.

There may be additional features that the embodiments of the disclosedarchitecture may support such as the examples which follow:

Reporting - New Feature Set NFS # Function Description NFS 14 Toll-freeCurrently, toll-free provider reporting data is not Provider availablefor up to 24 hours. The embodiments of Dashboard the disclosedarchitecture should provide to its users the ability to obtain statusinformation about is numbers, number statuses, recent activity, andother relevant information in near real time. This should be done via afeature called the toll-free provider dashboard.

The system will provide a platform for Analytics of TFMP data and usage.The Analytics platform should be flexible in providing some cannedanalytics as well as to allow the user to define and produce analyticson an ad hoc basis. The analytics should be able to be reports oncurrent day actions as well as historical actions. Categories ofanalytic reports are:

-   -   Individual toll-free Provider specific information on usage,        TFNs, activity    -   All or multiple selected toll-free providers information on        usage, TFNs, activity    -   SCP activity    -   System performance information

In embodiments, the system is architected, designed, and implementedwith security as a key attribute. The system shall ensure theconfidentiality, integrity, and availability of information assets.Controls will be implemented that protect IP and data againstunauthorized use, disclosure, transfer, modification, or destruction.Measures will be implemented such that legitimate users continue to haveaccess to the system for the expected services levels. The securityfunctionality will address two perspectives. One is the potentialsecurity threats and types of attacks that may be targeted at the systemor service. The other is a framework for a systematic analysis of themeasures available to protect the system or service from attack. One isthe potential security threats and types of attacks that may be targetedat embodiments of the system or service. The other is a framework for asystematic analysis of the measures available to protect embodiments ofthe system or service from attack.

All aspects of a system, including the physical plant and facilities,operating system and application software, signaling interfaces andprotocols, operations interfaces for configuration, surveillance, andadministration, and data storage and processing functions, have securityvulnerabilities that could potentially be exploited.

At a high-level, the security threats include: damage or destruction ofinformation and/or other system or service resources, corruption ormodification of information, illicit use, theft, or removal ofinformation and/or other system or service resources, disclosure ofinformation, and denial or interruption of services.

A security framework identifies the aspects of a system or service thatrequire security and the methods available to address the securitythreats for each. From a security perspective, a system or service canbe viewed as consisting of User, Control and Management planes. Eachplane includes infrastructure, services, and application layers.

Security services provide capabilities to prevent attacks. At each planeand layer, one or more of the following example security services may beapplicable:

Service Description Authentication Authentication is used to validatethe identity presented or asserted by an entity attempting to initiatecommunications with a system or service or identified as the source ofdata presented as input to a system or service. Peer entityauthentication occurs at the initiation, or potentially during,communication between entities. Authentication can be one-way or mutual.Data origin authentication attempts to verify the source of data. AccessControl Access control is used to protect against unauthorized access tosystemresources, including functional components, stored information,information flows, services, and applications. Role- Based AccessControl (RBAC) is a mechanism to provide different levels ofauthorization based on the entity attempting to gain access and thefunction or information to be accessed. RBAC is configured based uponthe designated role or job function of the entity accessing the systemData Data confidentiality prevents unauthorized disclosure of data.Confidentiality Mechanisms for data confidentiality apply for datastored by a system and data as it is being transferred from or to asystem. Confidentiality can apply for selected fields of data as well asprotect information that can be derived from observation of trafficflows Integrity Data integrity focuses on modification, insertion,deletion, and replay of data. Like confidentiality, data integrity canapply for stored data, data as it is transferred, and for selected dataelements or fields. Data integrity mechanisms may include capabilitiesfor data recovery. Non-repudiation & Non-repudiation provides a means toverify the entity involved in Logging messages or data exchanges orresponsible for activities performed by the system. A receiver of datacan be provided with proof of origin of the message, while a sender canbe provided with proof of receipt. Audits and logs supportnon-repudiation for access to embodiments of the system and actionstaken by users. Communication Communication security ensures thatinformation is exchanged Security only between authorized endpoints andis not diverted or intercepted Availability Security measures associatedwith availability may be intended to ensure there is no denial ofauthorized access to system functionality and stored information due toevents impacting the system Privacy Sensitive information about a systemand its users should be protected. Privacy is concerned with protectinginformation so that it cannot be gathered through network observation orother means.

Requirements Minimal Feature Set

MFS # Sub Function Description MFS 39 Authentication & The system shallrequire authenticated identity to Access Controls allow access to thesystem. The system shall use role-based permissions to control access tosystem functions and data. The system shall support the modification ofuser credentials via automated password reset as well as Password resetfrom a system help desk. The system will support user IDlocking/unlocking for reasons typically such as non-payment or 6 monthsof non-use. The system shall allow an authorized TFMP Administrator toperform the following functions: Remove a lock from a specific userID(s) Manually lock a specific user ID(s) Manually exempt a specificuser ID(s) from being automatically locked The system shallautomatically close user sessions due to an extended period ofinactivity. The system will provide capability to configure the‘inactive time’ after which user sessions are closed. The system shallsupport capabilities to detect, provide notification and proactivelymanage a potential DoS (Denial of Service) attack. The system shalltrack login account type and permissions by interface. MFS 40 Data Thesystem shall restrict the access and display of Confidentiality, storeddata to maintain data confidentiality based on Integrity andauthenticated and authorized identity. Availability The system shall usefirewalls and virus protection software to protect against corrupt ormalicious software. The system shall ensure information integrity,accuracy and consistency is maintained over its life cycle. Informationcannot be modified in an unauthorized or undetected manner. The systemshall be available when it is needed. This means the system with itsdata, security controls and communication channels must be functioningcorrectly at all times as specified by the SLAs. MFS 41 CommunicationThe system shall provide for encryption for data Security transferredacross interfaces that cross trust domain boundaries. All sensitiveinformation will be protected with transmission encryption. MFS 42Non-repudiation & The system will generate a log message for actionsLogging taken by users that identify the user, the interface, the actiontaken and parameters provided by the user, and the date and time. Thesystem will log all potential, suspected or know security incidents. Thesystem must be able to integrate with Incident management tools. MFS 43Password policy The system shall allow for configurable passwordcompliance rules and will force users to change passwords periodicallyand enforce minimum password strength requirements. The system shallencrypt all passwords. MFS 44 Role Based Access Create, Manage, Assignroles to users including RO' s, Control Carriers, SCP O/O, Ops.Permissions will be based upon Roles. MFS 45 Support Tariff There isproprietary info per a tariff that needs to be Requirements maintainedsuch as logon ID codes, list of customers, CPRs information & otherrelated information capable of being displayed in tabular form MFS 56Audit The system shall maintain audit trail of all transactionsrequirements that result in access, modification and/or deletion ofinformation. The audit trail should have the following minimuminformation Type of event Date time of event Source of the event Outcomeof the event Identity of user/subject associated with the event Auditlogs must be read-only and protected from unauthorized access. MFS 57Physical Security The system shall be housed in a secure facility withphysical safeguards and access controls. Unauthorized access to thefacility housing the system will not be permitted. MFS 58 VulnerabilityThe system shall expect security patches (application Management andinfrastructure software included) to be applied on a regular basis. Andshould be architected to minimize downtime during these events.Application code will be regularly scanned with at least one static codeanalysis tool to ensure good security practices are being followed. Allassets will be regularly scanned to ensure no malware or trojans arepresent. A proactive threat management solution (e.g.: SIEM) shall beimplemented to identify threats and manage compliance MFS 59 Backup andThe system shall be architected to continue Disaster Recoveryfunctioning even in case of a disaster at its primary site. The systemand its data will be regularly stored at an off-site location. Backupmechanism and procedures should be developed, documented and implementedas part of the solution.

There may be additional features the embodiments of the disclosedarchitecture may support such as the examples that follow:

system Security - New Feature Set NFS # Function Description NFS 15Single Sign-on In embodiments, the system may authenticate the sourcefor all attempts to access embodiments of the system via multi-factorauthentication. Methods include, but may be not limited to items such asa certificate provided by a credentialing authority, a login ID andpassword or other known approaches. NFS 16 Self-Serve Provide theability for self-service password resets Password Reset and the abilityto unlock logon IDs when all issues with it have been resolved withoutHelp desk intervention. NFS 17 Additional User Allow a toll-freeprovider the ability to identify a Management “super user” ID for theirorganization and allow the super user additional capabilities inmanaging the users under this provider. These capabilities couldinclude, but may be not limited to: Deactivating user IDs Activatinguser IDs Resetting passwords Restricting access (i.e., can search, butnot reserve, cannot modify an existing record, can only search and notcreate customer records,

Some primary functions provided by the embodiments of the disclosedarchitecture include the ability to search for and reserve toll-freenumbers and provision customer records that may be uploaded to SCPs toenable toll-free service. This can be done via an online interface (HUI)as well as by a machine-to-machine (API) interface. These interfacesallow manual and mechanized access to embodiments of the system forthese functions such as those that follow:

Requirements - Minimal Feature Set MFS # Sub Function Description MFSNumber Online ability to provide all the user 47 Administrationfunctionality described in the Number Administration section of thisdocument. MFS Customer Record Online ability to provide all the user 48functionality described in the Customer Record Administration section ofthis document. MFS System Online ability to provide all the user 49Administration functionality needed to perform embodiments of the systemadministration functions of this system. MFS Reporting Online ability toprovide all the user 50 functionality described in the Reporting sectionof this document.

Requirements - New Feature Set MFS # Sub Function Description NFS 19Single Sign-on Allow the ability for a user to login once and haveaccess to any and all areas of the system that they have permission toaccess without a separate login. NFS 20 Ease Of Use The user andadministrator interfaces should be designed in such a way as to providean easy and intuitive interface for users. Considerations shouldinclude, but are not limited to: Prompts for entries Intuitive defaultsbased upon user characteristics. Suggestive entries based upon previoususer actions.

The embodiments of the disclosed architecture may include a Web ServicesAPI for functionality supported in the Human User Interface (HUI).

The Human User Interface (HUI) provides user interface functions to thehuman users to access the system. The HUI may be accessed by many typesof users. For example, a user can be administrator, a toll-free serviceprovider user, SCP administrator, and network manager. Access to the HUIfunctions by a user can depend on the security permissions that havebeen assigned for the user by the administrator.

The HUI provides the following logical groups of functions which can beaccessed by a user: User Profile and Security Administration; NumberAdministration Customer Record Administration; SCP Management; Reports;and Administration

The administrator and/or others may use the user profile and securityadministration functions provided by the HUI to protect embodiments ofthe system data from being viewed or updated/deleted by unauthorizedusers. The user profile and security administration grants permissionsto different groups of users to access embodiments of the system tocreate, view, update and activate certain functions. The system canimplement a role-based access control mechanism.

The HUI provides functions to perform number search, reserve or cancelreservation for one or more toll-free numbers, change parametersassociated with already reserved numbers, and query numbers fordetermining the number status and other number administrationparameters. The HUI interacts with the “Number AdministrationRequirements” functional area to perform the number administrationfunctions.

The HUI interacts with the “Customer Record Administration” functionalarea to perform the functions described in this section.

The CAD function is used to enter the date and time for the toll-freenumber service, subscriber/customer information for the toll-freenumber, the Areas of Service (AOS) to be supported for the toll-freenumber, the carriers that, and others can be used to route calls to thetoll-free number, and other associated service data for the toll-freenumber.

An example CAD can be associated with a Call Processing Record (CPR) forcomplex call routing data and can be associated with a Labels Definition(LAD) record for additional complex call routing data that is entered onthe CPR.

The HUI interacts with the “SCP Management Requirements” functional areato perform the Service Control Point administration and networkmanagement functions.

The administrator or other toll-free service provider's users canrequest the Scheduled and On-demand reports via the Report Requestfunction of the HUI. The HUI interacts with the “Reporting Requirements”functional area to perform RRR request.

The disclosed embodiment Administration functions of the HUI may be usedfor Bulletin Board Messages, System Processing Options (SPO) andDowntime/Default Effective Time for CR (DDT). An Administrative Consolemay facilitate the system administrators and Help Desk personneladministrative functions for managing the system.

There may be additional features the embodiments of the disclosedarchitecture may support such as the examples that follow:

Administration Features Requirements - New Feature Set NFS # FunctionDescription NFS 18 Click to Chat Enable end users to quickly contact asupport representative through the user interface. This feature canprovide an immediate channel to a support representative.

The API interface 4600 operates as a liaison between the toll-freeservice provider client systems (CS) 4602 and the disclosed embodiment(disclosed embodiments), thereby providing a mechanism through whichinteractions between the client systems 4604 and embodiments of thearchitecture can take place. The API interface 4612 may, for example, beused by Customer Record Administration 4608 and Number Administration4610 components of the disclosed embodiment on one end, and thetoll-free service provider client systems on the other end. Thisinteraction is schematically illustrated in FIG. 46.

It is expected that disclosed embodiments can define a REST/SOAP API formachine interfaces. There is a current Mechanized Generic Interface(MGI) interface that supports many of our customers today and theembodiments of the disclosed architecture according to embodiments. TheMGI interface is being used across the network by all client systems andthere has to be backward compatibility. The move from MGI to an APIinterface cannot be overnight and has to be phased accordingly. The MGIInterface specification is available in SR 4592 MGI Interfacespecification.

In embodiments, the system provided alerts for certain situations. Thesealerts can be in the form of emails or via a logon notification or aconsole alert. Examples of these alerts may include:

Requirements—Minimal Feature Set

MFS # Sub Function Description MFS 51 API notifications The system maysupport notifications back to the user when background functionality iscompleted. MFS 52 SCP queuing If queue builds for a specific SCPtoll-free service providers cannot see the confirmation of download andcan tend to resend the CRs; an alert is sent to notify the communitythat the SCP is queuing. Not automated in current system. MFS 53 Reportavailability Notification to user that a report is available MFS 54System outage Inform users when embodiments of the notifications systemcan be down for scheduled maintenance. MFS 55 New feature or Let theusers know that functionality is functionality available. notification

This section provides a summary of characteristics of reference data.This need not define the absolute data needs, but can provide someinsight into the data stored and used.

Reference Data may fall into the following categories:

-   -   Network Administration reference data—primarily used to        construct and/or validate Customer Records    -   CCS Network Information is used to identify the CCS network        served by the SCPs    -   LATA to CCS Network Mapping is used to determine which networks        and their SCPs can receive customer records for a specified LATA        as the area-of-service    -   NPA to CCS Network Mapping is used to determine which CCS        networks and their SCPs can receive customer records for a        specified NPA as the area-of-service    -   Network Allowed Carriers is used to identify a subset of CICs        that may be supported by a CCS network    -   NPA-NXX to LATA Information is used as reference data of        NPA-NXXs in LATAs and the association with an Operating Company        Number (OCN) code, Company Code (CO), and Effective Date

General reference data about each telecommunications carrier that may beinvolved in carrying toll-free calls and might thus be an involvedcarrier included in the CRs of various toll-free service providers:

-   -   Carrier Information    -   Toll-free service providers and associated carriers    -   Carrier Agreements with Entities For CR Input    -   Entity Agreements with Carriers for CR Input

IntraLATA carrier management reference data—Used to supportLocal-Exchange Carriers (LECs) and other network service providers withthe capability to control and/or manage the use of their networks forIntraLATA toll-free calls to a destination POTS number that terminateson their network include:

-   -   Carrier Operating Company Numbers    -   Network Provider-SCP Owner/Operator Company Codes    -   Network Provider-SCP Owner/Operator Carrier Agreements    -   Network Provider-SCP Owner/Operator IntraLATA Agreements    -   Network Provider-SCP Owner/Operator IntraLATA Exceptions    -   Carrier IntraLATA Agreements    -   Carrier IntraLATA Exceptions    -   Toll-free Service Providers Allowed Carriers    -   Toll-free Service Providers Disallowed Carriers    -   Non-Functional Requirements

In order to run a system, there is a need to understand the performancerequirements of embodiments of the system and the processing throughput.This includes embodiments of the system availability needs as well asthe capacity and performance requirements. The performance of the systemmust meet or exceed the performance of the existing legacy system forall parameters described in this section.

This section addresses the expected availability of the disclosedembodiment. The approach used for this section is based on industrystandards related to availability.

This section establishes an understanding of terminology and establishcontext in this area in order to provide clear requirements regardingthe reliability of the disclosed embodiment. A defined time period isneeded to support an availability measurement. A typical calculationinvolves setting an availability objective or determining the actualavailability of a system or service over a year. It may be necessary toidentify exclusions from the time period, such as planned periods whenit is known that embodiments of the system or service cannot beavailable. It can also be specified that unexpected circumstances thatwould impact availability, such as excessive demand, unusual operatingconditions, or unexpected or disastrous events (e.g., earthquake, fireetc.) may be to be excluded from availability calculations.

Discussion related to availability often involves a number of 9s, i.e.,“five 9s” availability. This refers to an availability objective ormeasurement of 99.999%. Applied for a year, this means the availabilitysubject can provide the expected functionality across the given domainfor 525594.744 minutes and therefore not be available to provide theexpected functionality across the given domain for 5.256 minutes duringthe year.

Availability: Definition Rating UnPlanned Planned Very Good Fewer than61.32 hours* Fewer than 200 hours (99.3%) Outstanding Fewer than 26.28hours* Fewer than 50 hours (99.7%) Best in Class Fewer than 4.38 hours*Fewer than 12 hours (99.95) Continuous Availability Zero (100%) Zero(100%) By definition, continuous availability is 100% IT service uptimeBased on 24/365 or 8,760 hours/year scheduled uptime

When considering availability requirements, it is necessary tounderstand the functions it provides and its overall role in supportingtoll-free service. Certain functions of the system, namely NumberAdministration, Customer Record Administration, and SCP Management, maybe essential for supporting toll-free service. More specifically, theexpected functions of embodiments of the system when it is available maybe to:

-   -   Receive and process number search/reserve requests and customer        record input and update requests;    -   Administer statuses for toll-free numbers and customer records        based on user actions, effective dates and process rules applied        by the system; and    -   Download customer record information to SCPs.

The disclosed embodiment may be considered an operations system. Unlikean SCP, it is not involved in real-time routing of toll-free calls. Ifthis were not functioning, callers would still be able to make toll-freecalls and the calls would be routed to the correct toll-free servicesubscriber. In embodiments, the system does, however, provide“real-time” services (such as toll-free number and customer recordadministration) to toll-free service providers. An additionalconsideration is that access to toll-free numbers may be provided to allusers equally so that one toll-free service provider entity does notgain a competitive advantage over others for reserving desirablenumbers. This underscores the importance of consistent availabilityacross user interfaces.

Category Service Requirement Availability Unscheduled downtime forBest-in-class availability core functions and interfaces. defined as99.95% (fewer Core functions are Number than 262.8 minutes downAdministration, Customer per year, measured monthly) RecordAdministration, SCP Management and any support functions that these corefunctions depend on (i.e., Authentication & Authorization) Unscheduleddowntime for all Very good availability non-core functions. Non-coredefined as 99.50% - (fewer functions can be identified as than 2620.8minutes down any function not identified as per year, measured monthly)a core function (i.e., Reports, Billimg). Scheduled downtime for all Notto exceed on average 4 functions and interfaces hours per month

In embodiments, the system may also allow time and processing for theloading of industry reference data during routine maintenance windows.

Business continuity encompasses the strategic and tactical capability ofthe organization to plan for and respond to incidents and businessdisruptions in order to continue business operations at an acceptablepredefined level.

Disaster recovery capabilities include the strategies and plans forrecovering and restoring the organizations technological infrastructureand capabilities after a major system failure.

It may be necessary to establish objectives for unusual external eventslike earthquake or fire and non-routine activities like majorinfrastructure upgrades or transitions to new platforms. Overallsolution design, including operations processes and procedures, may beneeded to maintain business continuity during unusual circumstances andrecover from disasters. Solution design considerations for businesscontinuity and disaster recovery include geographic redundancy forsolution components, deployment of backup systems and capabilities, andselection of the sites where equipment and operating personnel may belocated.

A pictorial view of a disaster recovery scenario is illustrated in FIG.47 at 4700.

Category Service Requirement Resiliency System Recovery Time Less thantwo (2) Objective (RTO) - Restore hours after a disaster or majordisruption System Recovery Point 15 minutes Objective (RPO) - Maximumtolerable period in which data can be lost Transaction error rate - Lessthan 0.001% percentage of transactions that may be not successful forany reason

In embodiments, the system can facilitate the required optimal use ofdisaster recovery sites and expenses such that analytics or othernon-critical workloads can be run out of a warm/hot DR site, thusavoiding “Cold DR.” Redundant/disaster recovery site may be greater than100 miles away (range listed in ISO 27001 as 30 to 100 miles)

Capacity planning involves a judgment regarding the anticipated usage ofthe functions of a system and a correlation to embodiments of the systemresources needed to support the anticipated usage of a function. Basedon the usage forecast, the quantity of each system resource needed tomeet the demand is determined. Capacity is directly related toperformance. If load or demand surpasses the level used to plancapacity, system resources can become overloaded and the ability ofembodiments of the system to provide its intended function is likely todegrade. Once a system is operational, capacity management is acontinuous operational process. Usage and performance may be monitoredto recognize trends and capacity resource quantities may be adjustedaccordingly. The objective is to maintain system performance andefficient use of resources as usage and demand change.

There may be a number of components that provide the resources needed tosupport the functionality provided by a system. Depending on embodimentsof the system resource, capacity is expressed as a fixed size orquantity, or in terms of the demand, load, or usage the resource isexpected to support. Capacity related to system usage is generallyplanned based on the average period of largest usage of the system,taking into account the cost of system resources, the probability ofexcessive usage beyond the average peak, and the impact of degradedperformance when the anticipated peak is exceeded. For example, theremay be three main areas for which the capacity may be considered asindicated in the following table:

system Areas Description Processing A system needs sufficient processingcapacity to support usage of required functions. To quantify processingcapacity requirements, it is necessary to determine the tasks that maybe performed to support the functionality provided by embodiments of thesystem and quantify the relative processing capacity needed for eachone. A complicated task can use more processing resources as compared toa simple task. Using forecasts of the volume and frequency of each task,a determination can be made regarding how much processing capacity isneeded. Memory There may be a number of uses for system memory. Memoryis needed to support real-time system processing, including storage forembodiments of the system software. Additional memory is needed forstorage of data used by the system. Types of data used by a systeminclude: Configuration data that facilitates users to access embodimentsof the system and controls how embodiments of the system operate.Functional data that is entered by users and manipulated by the system.Reference data that provides information used to support each systemfunction. Historical data such as log files retained by the system.Interfaces Systems include interfaces for users to access thefunctionality of embodiments of the system and for embodiments of thesystem to exchange information with other systems. It is important tounderstand the types and quantity of interfaces a system is expected tosupport to determine embodiments of the system hardware and softwareresources required.

In order to understand the system capacity requirements some currentmetrics having to do with capacity and utilization are provided (FIGS.48-51).

Capacity related to system usage is generally planned based on theaverage period of largest usage, taking into account the probability ofexcessive usage beyond the average peak, as well as the impact ofdegraded performance when the anticipated peak is exceeded. Thefollowing assumptions were made when developing the capacity andperformance requirements. In embodiments, the performance of the systemmay meet or exceed the performance of the current system for parameters:

-   -   The initial processing capacity for the system can be engineered        to include capacity for growth of 20% YOY.    -   The system must be able to deliver burstable capacity.    -   Assuming 7,988,500 usable toll-free numbers per NPA and 8        toll-free NPAs, the system must be engineered to maintain data        for roughly 64 million usable toll-free numbers.    -   During peak usage periods, assume 25% of user logins are logged        in.    -   It is assumed the system will have the capacity to support        interfaces to 30 SCPs minimally.

Transaction Data - April 2015 Hourly Peak Peak Hour Transaction TypeAverage Hour Volume Number Search 2,234,000 22 5,700,000*** NumberReserve 13,900 23   51,000*** Number Spare 3,500 23    72,000 ***Customer Record Updates 6,360 20   31,600   ***Because a large volume oftoll-free numbers are spared in hour 23, many toll-free serviceproviders execute automated scripts to search and reserve for numbersthat have just been spared.

Capacity Category Service Current Requirement Capacity # Toll-FreeNumbers 40 million 64 million # Toll-Free Providers 450 600 # SCPOwner/Operator 22 30 Interfaces # Customer Records 128 million 192million # Online User 16,250 users 24,360 users # Concurrent Online4,875 users 6,090 users User Sessions

Toll-free Number Capacity - Minimal Feature Set MFS # FunctionDescription MFS 60 Toll-free The volume of toll free numbers, currentlyat 40 Number million, are growing by an average 180,000 per Capacitymonth. This growth will continue as the system must be scaled to be ableto be able to handle this growth as an expected activity.

Average Peak Hour Volume Volume Category Service Level RequirementRequirement Performance Search transactions 2.5 million 6.0 million (alltypes) per hour per hour Number Reservation 14,000  51,000 transactionsper hour per hour Number Spare 3,500 72,000 transactions per hour perhour Customer Record 6,500 31,500 Updates per hour per hour # SCPUpdated 20/second 30/second Customer Record downloads

Capacity & Performance - New Feature Set MFS # Function Description NFS21 Extreme In the event of an extreme system usage situation system(i.e. NPA code opening) the system must be able usage to quickly scaleup to handle up to four times situation (4X) the normal peak usageperiod. To illustrate extreme usage, in once case during the opening oftoll-free NPA 844, a peak of 77,000 transactions per minute werereceived.

Usage measurement and monitoring is required to provide fair and equalsystem access to all toll-free service providers. In order to do that,the system may measure, monitor, and alert the system usage for anyinstances where one provider's utilization is at a point where it isimpacting the other provider's use of the system. The measurements mustbe on a toll-free service provider level.

Usage Measurement and Monitoring - Minimal Feature Set MFS # FunctionDescription MFS 38 Usage The system can must measure, monitor, and alertMeasure- for any instances where one provider's utilization ment is at apoint where it is impacting the other & provider's use of the system.The measurements Monitoring must be on a on a toll-free service providerlevel The alerting level should be a configurable setting in the system.

Reference data may be required to represent routing and numbering in thePOTS network and the service areas supported by SCP O/O networks. Theinformation provides the relationships between SCP O/O CCS networks andthe LATAs, NPAs and NPA-NXXs each network serves and is used to validatethe information in customer records. There may be 8 CCS networkssupported by the system.

There are 164 LATAs in the NANP, roughly 380 NPAs in use or planned foruse for POTS call routing, and roughly 160,000 NPA-NXXs assigned tocentral offices for call routing.

The system can provide memory capacity for the reference data needed tocapture the relationships between States, LATAs, NPAs, and NPA-NXXsrequired to represent the POTS network.

The system can provide memory capacity for the reference data requiredto represent the network relationships supported by each SCP O/O CCSnetwork.

The system must also allow time and processing for the loading ofindustry reference data during routine maintenance windows.

In embodiments of the system, functional data is the data required byeach function supported by the system. The system maintains functionaldata for each NPA-NXX within a toll-free NPA and each toll-free numberwith each NPA-NXX. Currently, the toll-free NPAs 800, 888, 877, 866,855, and 844 are open and NPA 833 is anticipated to open in 2017, makinga total of 7 toll-free NPAs. Note that 822 and 889 are also reserved asa potential future toll-free NPAs.

For each toll-free NPA, NXXs 000-199, 911, and 555 are not used.Additionally, in NXX 250, XXXX numbers 0000-1499 are not used. Thisresults in 7,988,500 toll-free numbers per NPA. Assuming 8 toll-freeNPA, the system will need to maintain data for roughly 64 milliontoll-free numbers.

In embodiments of the system, initial minimum memory capacity for thedata required to support 64 million toll-free numbers. Toll-free serviceis enabled when a toll-free number is reserved by a toll-free serviceprovider, a customer record is provisioned against the number, andinformation from the record is downloaded to SCPs. Numbers that are notcurrently controlled by a toll-free service provider (i.e., numbers inSPARE status) and numbers not available for toll-free service (i.e.,numbers in UNAVAILABLE status) do not have customer records. Customerrecords are provisioned in advance of an effective date, and the systemmaintains current and pending customer records, so it is possible formultiple customer records to be associated with a number.

A percentage of toll-free numbers will be in SPARE status and thereforenot have an associated customer record. Additionally, many workingnumbers have not had changes to the provided toll-free service andtherefore have a single active customer record. However, some numbersmay have an active and pending customer record, and old records arestored by the system for a period of time. For the purposes of capacityplanning and to account for the differences in size between simple andcomplex customer records, it is assumed that there is an average of 2customer records per toll-free number. Therefore, the system will needto maintain 128 million customer records.

The system can provide initial minimum memory capacity for the datarequired to support 128 million customer records.

During peak usage periods, 25% of user logins are logged into thesystem. The system must provide capacity for 16,250 login IDs andanticipating 30% peak concurrent usage, capacity for 4,875 concurrentHUI sessions. Note that not all users who are logged into the systemwill be actively and continuously sending requests to the system.

During a time of extreme usage, such as the opening of a new toll-freeNPA, there will a significant increase in the number of concurrentsessions. In the event of an extreme system usage situation the systemshould be able to quickly scale up to handle up to four times (4×) thenormal peak usage period.

Instantaneous response time is the time for a response when performingan action regarding objects on the screen, such as using a mouse toselect on an on-screen object or drag a scroll bar.

When a human user takes an action related to an object on a screen, thesystem can provide an initial acknowledgment response in 0.1-0.2seconds.

When a human user takes action to request an operation or execute acommand requiring system process of the request, the system can providea response in 0.5-1 second.

A feedback response provides information regarding the progress orcompletion of a requested action.

For transactions that take longer than 5 seconds—the system will providethe user feedback that the transaction has been accepted and that theresponse will be available at a later time.

In embodiments, the system can provide an API interface formachine-to-machine transaction processing. The system can provideresources to support having API connections from each toll-freeProviders (number of expected providers defined above).

The system can minimally have the capacity to support interfaces to 30SCPs at launch with the ability to add more as the number of users grow.

The table below presents example minimum data rates for the SCPinterface as stated in Section 4.2.2 of TM-798. The performance of thesystem may meet or exceed the performance of the current system for allparameters described in this section.

Minimum Non-Peak Data Rates for SCP Interface from TM-798 TransactionSize/Data Rate Customer Record Updates 9.6 Kbytes/CR × 20 CR/sec Or 192Kbytes/sec Or 1.536 megabits/sec Other 88 Kbytes/hour

The system can provide the resources to support the data rate andmessage frequency for each SCP interface as specified.

SCP Data Rates—Minimal Feature Set MFS # Function Description MI FS 46SCP Data The system must be able to process a minimum of Rates 1200commands per minute and a minimum of 20 customer record update (UPD-UCR)commands per second. The typical, non-peak message frequency is roughly1 per second

There are four main areas of data integrity that may need to beaddressed and monitored. They are:

-   -   Latency: The time between when information is expected and when        it is readily available for use.    -   Accuracy: Data accuracy refers to the degree with which data        correctly represents the “real-life” objects they are intended        to represent.    -   Timeliness: Refers to the time expectation for accessibility and        availability of information. Timeliness can be measured as the        time between when information is expected and when it is readily        available for use.    -   Consistency: Two data values drawn from separate data sets must        not conflict with each other, although consistency does not        necessarily imply correctness.

ACRONYMS & GLOSSARY

Acronym Meaning ACG Automatic Call Gapping ACNA Access Customer NameAbbreviation AIN Advanced Intelligent Network AOS Area of Service (ofcustomer record or CCS network) ASCII American Standard Code forInformation Interchange ASLs Area-of-Service Labels ATIS Alliance forTelecommunications Industry Solutions BOC Bell Operating Company CADCustomer Administrative Data (portion of Customer Record) CAG CarrierAgreements with Entities table CAN Customer Notification and ApprovalCAT Customer Acceptance Testing CCP Cost Causer Pays CCI (Mass) CarrierChange Information CCS Common Channel Signaling (is a standardsterminology) CIC Carrier Identification Code (is an industry standardelement) CLLI Common Language Location Identifier (is an industrystandard element) CLEC Competing Local Exchange Carrier CMSDB CallManagement Services Data Base CNA Carrier Notification and Approval COCompany Code (defined by the TPM industry data) CO Central Office CPRCall Processing Record CR Customer Record CRA Customer RecordAdministration CRA/CRR Customer Record Audit/Resend CRA&O CustomerRecord Activation and Output CRB Customer Record Benchmarks CRN CustomerRecord Number CRO Customer Record Output (process of CRA) CS Clientsystem CSE Carrier Security Information CSV Comma Separate Variable CVERConversion Error d/b/a “Doing Business As” operating units of carriersDDT Down & Default Time DoS Denial of Service DTN Destination TelephoneNumber E2E End-to-end system Integration Testing EAG Entity Agreementswith Carriers (for CR Input) EAP TFN Exceptions for Approvals (for CNAprocess) ECC Excessive Calling Controls EDR Event Data Record EDTEffective Date and Time EID End Intercept Date ENA Entity Notificationand Approval Set-up ENO TFN Exceptions for Notifications (for CNAprocess) ENO/EAP Exception Notification and Approval (by Toll-FreeNumbers) FA Final Acceptance FCAPS Fault, Configuration, Accounting,Performance and Security management FCC Federal CommunicationsCommission FMO Future Mode of Operation FTP File Transfer Protocol GANM2M (MGI) Activation Notice Control table GNA Carrier GeneralNotification and Approval Set-up GUI Graphical User Interface HH:MM:SSHours, minutes, seconds HPU High Priority (CR) Updates HTML HyperTextMarkup Language HUI Human User Interface IC Inter-exchange Carrier ICMIntraLATA Carrier Management (CIC 0110 validations) ID IdentificationILEC Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier INWATS Inward Wide Area TelephoneService IOT Inter-Operability Testing IP Internet Protocol IPSecInternet Protocol Security KPI Key Performance Indicators LAD LabelDefinitions LAN Local Area Network LATA Local Access and Transport AreaLECs Local Exchange Carriers LERG Local Exchange Routing Guide LSO LocalServing Office LT Load Test LUI Locked and Inactive User IDs M2M Machineto Machine MAS Mass Calling Thresholds MCC Manual Control Request MCPMulti-Number Customer-to-Pointer Record Conversion MGI MechanizedGeneric Interface MHG Multi-Line Hunt Group MNA Multi-Number AutomationMND Multi-Dial Number Disconnect MNL Master Number List (supported TFNPANXX domain of an SCP) MoP Methods of Procedures M&P Methods andProcedures MRO Multi-Dial Number Resp Org Change MRT MigrationRegression Test MTBF Mean Time Before Failure MTTR Mean Time To RepairNA Number Administration NAC Network Allowed Carriers table NANP NorthAmerican Numbering Plan NCA Network Provider-SCP Owner/Operator CarrierAgree- ments table NCC Network Provider-SCP Owner/Operator Company CodesNCN NPA to CCS Network Mapping table NDA Non-Disclosure Agreement NETCCS Network Information table NFY Notify (CNA action indicator value)NGN Next Generation Networks NLA Network Provider-SCP Owner/OperatorIntraLATA Agreements table NLE Network Provider-SCP Owner/OperatorIntraLATA Exceptions table NMC Network Management Center or NMC NetworkManagement Class (a/k/a Threshold Level Class) NOC Network OperationCenter NOF Carrier Notification NON No notification (CNA actionindicator value) NPA Numbering Plan Area NPANXX The leading 6-digits ofa 10-digit NANP telephone number NRC Network Management Report ControlNRL Network Management Report Limits NXL NPA-NXX to LATA Informationtable NXX The 4th through 6th digits of a NANP Telephone number OAM&POperations, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning OCN OperatingCompany Numbers OEI Other External Interfaces ORC Resp Org Control ORGResp Org Info OSI Open systems Interconnect PAD Pointer AdministrativeData PMO Present Mode of Operation POTS Plain Old Telephone Service PRPointer Record PRC SCP Report Control PRL SCP Exception Report ControlPSTN Public Switched Telephone Network RA Require approval (CNA actionindicator value) RAC Resp Org Allowed Carriers (reference data table)RAO Revenue Accounting Office RAT Revenue Assurance Test RBAC Role BasedAccess Control RDC Resp Org Disallowed Carriers (reference data table)Resp Org Responsible Organization (RO) RM Removal of Invalid 6-Digits inAOS Labels ROC Resp Org Associated Carriers for View (reference datatable) ROI (Mass) Resp Org Change Information (ROI) ROP Resp Org ProfileRRR Report Request Reports RSP-RCU Response to Customer Record Updatemessage (SMS-SCP interface) RSP-ROR Response to Update Resp Org message(SMS-SCP inter- face) RS S Rich Site Summary SAP/DAP Summary and Detailof Carrier Approval Status SCCP Signaling Connection Control Part SCPService Control Point SCP-M Service Control Point Management SCP O/OService Control Point Owner/Operator SEC/SUD Security Control/SecurityUser Data SEP Security Parameters SFG Simulated Facility Group SID SCPID Definition SLA Service Level Agreement SMS Short Message ServiceSMS/80 0Service Management system/800 SPO System Processing Options SRSpecial Report SRC SMS Administration Report Control SS7 SignalingSystem 7 SSP Service Switching Point STD Security Terminal Data STNScreening Telephone Number STP Signaling Transfer Point SUD SecurityUser Data TAD Template Administrative Data (portion of a TemplateRecord) TAL Template Allocation Limits TCP Transmission Control ProtocolTF Toll Free TFN Toll-Free Number TLC Threshold Level Class TM-798The-SCP/CMSDB Interface Specification TLS Transport Layer Security TPMTerminating Point Master TR Template Record TRA Telecom RoutingAdministration UAL User Application Layer UC Use Case

Advanced Intelligent Mechanism used with the Signaling system 7 toNetwork (AIN) provide advanced call routing and processing Area ofService Area from which a toll-free number can receive (AOS) callsBilling Capability of the system to provide information required tocalculate monthly bills Carrier Provider of telephone service, operatorof a network that processes telephone calls Customer Record Definesrouting of calls to a toll-free number, provisioned in the system anduploaded to SCPs Customer Record Supports entry and update of customerrecords Administration associated with a toll-free number Local Accessand Geographic area of service for a local carrier Transport Area (LATA)Local Exchange End-office switching system in the telephone companynetwork that provides service to telephone subscribers Number Supportssearch, reserve, query and update of Administration toll-free numbersand maintains number statuses North American Standard that describes theformat and use of Numbering Plan telephone numbers (NANP) Numberportability Ability to move the service associated with a telephonenumber from one carrier to another Query Request for the system toprovide information about a number Reporting Capability of the system toprovide data to users in the form of reports Resp Org/toll-free User ofthe system to obtain control of toll-free Provider numbers and provisioncustomer records, sells service to toll-free subscribers Search Requestfor the system to find toll-free numbers that are not controlled by aResp Org SCP Management Supports management of SCPs via the systemFunction Service Switching Local exchange switch supporting access toPoint Signaling System 7 Signaling system 7 Network architecture andprotocol supporting (SS7) out-of-band signaling for call setup andfeature control Signaling Control Database containing information usedto route Point (SCP) calls and provide features Service Control PointResponsible for operation of SCPs Owner/Operator (SCP O/O) SignalingTransfer Routes Signaling System 7 messages Point (STP) Reserve Requestto take control of a toll-free number, number becomes associated with atoll-free service provider Tandem Switching system that providesinterworking between other switching systems Telephone number Identifiestelephone service and the unique network resources dedicated toproviding the service, format is NPA-NXX-XXXX as described by the NorthAmerican Numbering Plan 9 NANP) Toll-free service Type of telephoneservice where calls are billed to the terminating subscriber, not thecaller Toll-free subscriber End-user for toll-free service, obtainsservice, including an associated toll-free number, from a toll-freeservice provider User Interface Supports mechanized access to the systemvia a Function machine-to-machine interface and manual access via ahuman user interface

The methods and systems described herein may be deployed in part or inwhole through a machine that executes computer software, program codes,and/or instructions on a processor. The processor may be part of aserver, client, network infrastructure, mobile computing platform,stationary computing platform, or other computing platform. A processormay be any kind of computational or processing device capable ofexecuting program instructions, codes, binary instructions and the like.The processor may be or include a signal processor, digital processor,embedded processor, microprocessor or any variant such as a co-processor(math co-processor, graphic co-processor, communication co-processor andthe like) and the like that may directly or indirectly facilitateexecution of program code or program instructions stored thereon. Inaddition, the processor may enable execution of multiple programs,threads, and codes. The threads may be executed simultaneously toenhance the performance of the processor and to facilitate simultaneousoperations of the application. By way of implementation, methods,program codes, program instructions and the like described herein may beimplemented in one or more thread. The thread may spawn other threadsthat may have assigned priorities associated with them; the processormay execute these threads based on priority or any other order based oninstructions provided in the program code. The processor may includememory that stores methods, codes, instructions and programs asdescribed herein and elsewhere. The processor may access a storagemedium through an interface that may store methods, codes, andinstructions as described herein and elsewhere. The storage mediumassociated with the processor for storing methods, programs, codes,program instructions or other type of instructions capable of beingexecuted by the computing or processing device may include but may notbe limited to one or more of a CD-ROM, DVD, memory, hard disk, flashdrive, RAM, ROM, cache and the like.

A processor may include one or more cores that may enhance speed andperformance of a multiprocessor. In embodiments, the process may be adual core processor, quad core processors, other chip-levelmultiprocessor and the like that combine two or more independent cores(called a die).

The methods and systems described herein may be deployed in part or inwhole through a machine that executes computer software on a server,client, firewall, gateway, hub, router, or other such computer and/ornetworking hardware. The software program may be associated with aserver that may include a file server, print server, domain server,internet server, intranet server and other variants such as secondaryserver, host server, distributed server and the like. The server mayinclude one or more of memories, processors, computer readabletransitory and/or non-transitory media, storage media, ports (physicaland virtual), communication devices, and interfaces capable of accessingother servers, clients, machines, and devices through a wired or awireless medium, and the like. The methods, programs or codes asdescribed herein and elsewhere may be executed by the server. Inaddition, other devices required for execution of methods as describedin this application may be considered as a part of the infrastructureassociated with the server.

The server may provide an interface to other devices including, withoutlimitation, clients, other servers, printers, database servers, printservers, file servers, communication servers, distributed servers andthe like. Additionally, this coupling and/or connection may facilitateremote execution of program across the network. The networking of someor all of these devices may facilitate parallel processing of a programor method at one or more location without deviating from the scope ofthe disclosure. In addition, all the devices attached to the serverthrough an interface may include at least one storage medium capable ofstoring methods, programs, code and/or instructions. A centralrepository may provide program instructions to be executed on differentdevices. In this implementation, the remote repository may act as astorage medium for program code, instructions, and programs.

The software program may be associated with a client that may include afile client, print client, domain client, internet client, intranetclient and other variants such as secondary client, host client,distributed client and the like. The client may include one or more ofmemories, processors, computer readable transitory and/or non-transitorymedia, storage media, ports (physical and virtual), communicationdevices, and interfaces capable of accessing other clients, servers,machines, and devices through a wired or a wireless medium, and thelike. The methods, programs or codes as described herein and elsewheremay be executed by the client. In addition, other devices required forexecution of methods as described in this application may be consideredas a part of the infrastructure associated with the client.

The client may provide an interface to other devices including, withoutlimitation, servers, other clients, printers, database servers, printservers, file servers, communication servers, distributed servers andthe like. Additionally, this coupling and/or connection may facilitateremote execution of program across the network. The networking of someor all of these devices may facilitate parallel processing of a programor method at one or more location without deviating from the scope ofthe disclosure. In addition, all the devices attached to the clientthrough an interface may include at least one storage medium capable ofstoring methods, programs, applications, code and/or instructions. Acentral repository may provide program instructions to be executed ondifferent devices. In this implementation, the remote repository may actas a storage medium for program code, instructions, and programs.

The methods and systems described herein may be deployed in part or inwhole through network infrastructures. The network infrastructure mayinclude elements such as computing devices, servers, routers, hubs,firewalls, clients, personal computers, communication devices, routingdevices and other active and passive devices, modules and/or componentsas known in the art. The computing and/or non-computing device(s)associated with the network infrastructure may include, apart from othercomponents, a storage medium such as flash memory, buffer, stack, RAM,ROM and the like. The processes, methods, program codes, instructionsdescribed herein and elsewhere may be executed by one or more of thenetwork infrastructural elements.

The methods, program codes, and instructions described herein andelsewhere may be implemented on a cellular network having multiplecells. The cellular network may either be frequency division multipleaccess (FDMA) network or code division multiple access (CDMA) network.The cellular network may include mobile devices, cell sites, basestations, repeaters, antennas, towers, and the like.

The methods, programs codes, and instructions described herein andelsewhere may be implemented on or through mobile devices. The mobiledevices may include navigation devices, cell phones, mobile phones,mobile personal digital assistants, laptops, palmtops, netbooks, pagers,electronic books readers, music players and the like. These devices mayinclude, apart from other components, a storage medium such as a flashmemory, buffer, RAM, ROM and one or more computing devices. Thecomputing devices associated with mobile devices may be enabled toexecute program codes, methods, and instructions stored thereon.Alternatively, the mobile devices may be configured to executeinstructions in collaboration with other devices. The mobile devices maycommunicate with base stations interfaced with servers and configured toexecute program codes. The mobile devices may communicate on a peer topeer network, mesh network, or other communications network. The programcode may be stored on the storage medium associated with the server andexecuted by a computing device embedded within the server. The basestation may include a computing device and a storage medium. The storagedevice may store program codes and instructions executed by thecomputing devices associated with the base station.

The computer software, program codes, and/or instructions may be storedand/or accessed on machine readable transitory and/or non-transitorymedia that may include: computer components, devices, and recordingmedia that retain digital data used for computing for some interval oftime; semiconductor storage known as random access memory (RAM); massstorage typically for more permanent storage, such as optical discs,forms of magnetic storage like hard disks, tapes, drums, cards and othertypes; processor registers, cache memory, volatile memory, non-volatilememory; optical storage such as CD, DVD; removable media such as flashmemory (e.g. USB sticks or keys), floppy disks, magnetic tape, papertape, punch cards, standalone RAM disks, Zip drives, removable massstorage, off-line, and the like; other computer memory such as dynamicmemory, static memory, read/write storage, mutable storage, read only,random access, sequential access, location addressable, fileaddressable, content addressable, network attached storage, storage areanetwork, bar codes, magnetic ink, and the like.

The methods and systems described herein may transform physical and/oror intangible items from one state to another. The methods and systemsdescribed herein may also transform data representing physical and/orintangible items from one state to another.

The elements described and depicted herein, including in flow charts andblock diagrams throughout the figures, imply logical boundaries betweenthe elements. However, according to software or hardware engineeringpractices, the depicted elements and the functions thereof may beimplemented on machines through computer executable transitory and/ornon-transitory media having a processor capable of executing programinstructions stored thereon as a monolithic software structure, asstandalone software modules, or as modules that employ externalroutines, code, services, and so forth, or any combination of these, andall such implementations may be within the scope of the presentdisclosure. Examples of such machines may include, but may not belimited to, personal digital assistants, laptops, personal computers,mobile phones, other handheld computing devices, medical equipment,wired or wireless communication devices, transducers, chips,calculators, satellites, tablet PCs, electronic books, gadgets,electronic devices, devices having artificial intelligence, computingdevices, networking equipment, servers, routers and the like.Furthermore, the elements depicted in the flow chart and block diagramsor any other logical component may be implemented on a machine capableof executing program instructions. Thus, while the foregoing drawingsand descriptions set forth functional aspects of the disclosed systems,no particular arrangement of software for implementing these functionalaspects should be inferred from these descriptions unless explicitlystated or otherwise clear from the context. Similarly, it will beappreciated that the various steps identified and described above may bevaried, and that the order of steps may be adapted to particularapplications of the techniques disclosed herein. All such variations andmodifications are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure.As such, the depiction and/or description of an order for various stepsshould not be understood to require a particular order of execution forthose steps, unless required by a particular application, or explicitlystated or otherwise clear from the context.

The methods and/or processes described above, and steps thereof, may berealized in hardware, software or any combination of hardware andsoftware suitable for a particular application. The hardware may includea dedicated computing device or specific computing device or particularaspect or component of a specific computing device. The processes may berealized in one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, embeddedmicrocontrollers, programmable digital signal processors or otherprogrammable device, along with internal and/or external memory. Theprocesses may also, or instead, be embodied in an application specificintegrated circuit, a programmable gate array, programmable array logic,or any other device or combination of devices that may be configured toprocess electronic signals. It will further be appreciated that one ormore of the processes may be realized as a computer executable codecapable of being executed on a machine readable medium.

The computer executable code may be created using a structuredprogramming language such as C, an object oriented programming languagesuch as C++, or any other high-level or low-level programming language(including assembly languages, hardware description languages, anddatabase programming languages and technologies) that may be stored,compiled or interpreted to run on one of the above devices, as well asheterogeneous combinations of processors, processor architectures, orcombinations of different hardware and software, or any other machinecapable of executing program instructions.

Thus, in one aspect, each method described above and combinationsthereof may be embodied in computer executable code that, when executingon one or more computing devices, performs the steps thereof. In anotheraspect, the methods may be embodied in systems that perform the stepsthereof, and may be distributed across devices in a number of ways, orall of the functionality may be integrated into a dedicated, standalonedevice or other hardware. In another aspect, the means for performingthe steps associated with the processes described above may include anyof the hardware and/or software described above. All such permutationsand combinations are intended to fall within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

While the disclosure has been disclosed in connection with the preferredembodiments shown and described in detail, various modifications andimprovements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled inthe art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present disclosure isnot to be limited by the foregoing examples, but is to be understood inthe broadest sense allowable by law.

All documents referenced herein are hereby incorporated by reference.

What is claimed:
 1. A method comprising: creating at least two toll-freecall routing tables based on a congestion threshold node in a callrouting tree, wherein the first of the two call routing tables is to beused when toll-free call volumes occurring within a toll-freetelecommunications carrier network are below the congestion threshold,and the second of the two call routing tables is to be used whentoll-free call volumes occurring within a toll-free telecommunicationscarrier network are equal to or above the congestion threshold;providing the call routing tables to at least one service control pointthat is associated with the toll-free telecommunications carriernetwork; monitoring toll-free call volumes and durations occurringwithin a toll-free telecommunications carrier network; receiving atleast one of a call count datum or call duration datum from thetoll-free telecommunications carrier network wherein the call countdatum or call duration datum indicates a change in call volumes over thetoll-free telecommunications carrier network from below the congestionthreshold to above the congestion threshold; and instructing the servicecontrol point to switch from using the first call routing table to thesecond call routing table without a need to change the routing tree. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the call volume is expressed as apercentage of the total call volume occurring over the network.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the call volume is a indication of a networkfailure to transmit calls.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the callvolume is specific to an entity.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theentity is a carrier.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is acall center.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is a servicecontrol point.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch to thesecond call routing table occurs in real time with no additional changesto routing tree required.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein decisionnodes of the first and second call routing tables are loaded into theservice control point.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the callvolumes are used to create a call path score for a possible call routepath that is available on the network.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the call path score is based at least in part on a call traveldistance estimate.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the call pathscore is based at least in part on a call travel speed estimate.
 13. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the call path score is used in associationwith the congestion threshold criterion to determine the switch to thesecond call route table.
 14. A method comprising: creating at least twotoll-free call routing tables based on a congestion threshold criterion,wherein the first of the two call routing tables is to be used whentoll-free call volumes occurring within a toll-free telecommunicationscarrier network are below the congestion threshold, and the second ofthe two call routing tables is to be used when toll-free call volumesoccurring within a toll-free telecommunications carrier network areequal to or above the congestion threshold; providing the call routingtables to at least one service control point that is associated with thetoll-free telecommunications carrier network; monitoring toll-free callvolumes and durations occurring within a toll-free telecommunicationscarrier network; receiving at least one of a call count datum or callduration datum from the toll-free telecommunications carrier networkwherein the call count datum or call duration datum indicates a changein call volumes over the toll-free telecommunications carrier networkfrom below the congestion threshold to above the congestion threshold;creating a second congestion threshold criterion based on the datareceived from the toll-free telecommunications network; and creating athird call routing table based on the second congestion thresholdcriterion.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the toll-free calltraffic occurring within a toll-free telecommunications network isswitched based at least in part on one of the first or second congestionthreshold criterion.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the third callrouting table is used to route an incoming toll-free call receivedsubsequent to the creation of the third call routing table.